Of all the bands in my record collection, I'd have said that Therapy? would have to be one of the least likely to do a series of acoustic shows. This is a band that's built it's reputation on an uncompromising dark metal sound - and you can't split ears with an acoustic guitar, can you?
In his interview with music-news.com, Lead singer Andy Cairns explains that the idea evolved off the back of the recent trend of radio stations asking them to bring in a guitar to sing on air. They liked the sound, and thought they'd give it a go. So here we are, in the historic and atmospheric Union Chapel, and off we'll bloody well go.
The band open with "Trigger inside", a dark brooding monster on record, but a country skiffle treat tonight. The crowd warm to it immediately, and guess what, acoustic Therapy? really works. However hard core the recorded music is, the band have always had a melodic edge, and that shines through. Nirvana unplugged worked because of the strength of the music, the same rule applies here.
What has never been in doubt has been Andy Cairns' ability to be both front man and raconteur. He's always engaged with the crowd, but tonight he's on sparkling form, introducing bassist and fellow founding member of the band Michael McKeegan on bass as the "evil priest", and teasing drummer Neil Cooper for partaking heavily in the rock and roll lifestyle on tour, and extorting us all to boo Donald Trump each time his name is mentioned.
The songs are also introduced, one by one, "Tides" is dedicated to the junkies and ladies of the night that inhabited the area where he lived when he wrote it, "Evil Elvis" is introduced with a deprecating annecdote about how Cairns died his hair and got a hair cut to look more rock and roll, but ended up looking like Elton John.
There's seriousness too; "Opel Mantra", inspired by a car crash, and an incident with the Ulster Constabulary in the bad old days. The band are joined on stage for several numbers by chellist Jenny Nendick. "Gone" takes on a deeper meaning, introduced as it is with the explanation that it was written about a girl that the band had known back home, sounding even more poignant and haunting as the sound soars into the vaulted church.
The encore opens with "Potato Junkie"; a great moment of anarchy as the crowd sing along to the chorus of "james joyce is f**king my sister". We get more chello in the encore, as the band cover Husker-Du's "Diane", again a surprising triumph when played acoustically. The best is saved to last, finishing with the triumvirate of "Screamager", "Going Nowhere" and finally with the sell out crowd all on their feet, "Die Laughing".
And that's it; the doors open and a buzzing crowd spill back out of the church and onto the street. 2016 has been a strange year for all of us; heroes have died, elections have happened, the world has changed in weird and not always happy ways. At times like this, we all need something; maybe this is the right kind of Therapy?
Check out the exclusive Music-News.com interview below.
