Idlewild

Idlewild arrived at KOKO for a sold-out show with Roddy Woomble at the helm sounding as good as ever.

The band launched into the evening with “Roseability,” a track that immediately set the standard for the night. This was quickly followed by “Like I Had Before,” further qualifying the band's distinctive edge. The early inclusion of “You Held the World in Your Arms” was a potent reminder of their early-2000s commercial breakthrough, with the chorus being instantly lifted by the in-voice crowd.

The band's performance a balance between the rawness of their original sound and the layered refinement of their later material. Guitarist Rod Jones provided the essential, taut riffs that have long been the foundation of their identity, particularly during the brisk delivery of “Little Discourage” and “Live in a Hiding Place.” Woomble, meanwhile, commanded the stage with an assured presence, his vocals matured but still retaining the distinctive urgent quality of a natural storyteller.

“Interview Music” highlighting the band's shift towards more complex structures and poetic lyrics. This led into the driving intensity of tracks like “Actually It's Darkness” and the newer “Stay Out of Place,” melding pounding drums with an anthemic, alt-rock chorus.

The central part of the evening drew heavily from the era that cemented their place in British rock, including the galloping melody of “American English” and the melancholic introspection of “I Wish I Wrote It Down.” The final surge before the encore delivered a powerful trio: “El Capitan,” which retains its forceful, early new wave vitality; the essential “When I Argue I See Shapes;” and the sweeping, life-affirming anthem “Love Steals Us From Loneliness.”

Returning to the stage, the encore was a concise run through four fan favourites. “Everyone Says You're So Fragile” and my personal favourite the blistering“A Modern Way of Letting Go”. The show concluded with the fitting pairing of “A Film for the Future” and the majestic “In Remote Part / Scottish Fiction,” ending with the famed recitation of Edwin Morgan’s poem.

Idlewild’s 23 track set was a powerful assertion that their catalogue is still capable of both rattling the rafters and stirring genuine emotional response. The band remains a tight unit still masters of channelling abrasive energy with melodic grace. A great night!