Therapy? - Network, Sheffield, Saturday 2nd December, 2023
Setlist: They Shoot The Terrible Master/Nausea/Isolation(Joy Division Cover)/Joy/Unbeliever/Safe/Bewildered Herd/Neck Freak/Two Wounded Animals/Turn/Totally Random Man/Woe/Poundland Of Hope And Glory/Stories/Days Kollaps/Mongrel/Diane (Husker Du Cover)/Teethgrinder.
Encore: Bloody Blue/The Wait (Killing Joke Cover)/Die Laughing/Potato Junkie (with Iron Man Interpretation & Drum Solo)/Ugly/Screamager/Requiem (Killing Joke Cover - one verse & one chorus only)/Nowhere.
In support of their 16th studio album, 'Hard Cold Fire', Northern Irish trio Therapy? return to Sheffield for the first time since 2018. Consisting of original members, Andy Cairns (Guitar/Vocals) and Michael McKeegan (Bass/Vocals) plus 20 year veteran of the band, Drummer, Neil Cooper.
It was scheduled for O2 Academy2 but moved to Network2 due to the closure of the original venue. I have lost count of the number of times watching this band live but I have seen them on almost every tour since 1994 making this my 29th year of seeing T?.
I head to the venue with camera in hand and wearing a well worn 1995 'Infernal Love' Tour T-shirt which has been to almost as many shows as I have. Opening salvo is the new album's first track 'They Shoot The Terrible Master' followed by 'Nausea' which set the pace for what is going to inevitably be a loud, sweaty and frankly brilliant evening. Following this with a fantastic version of Joy Division's 'Isolation' and 'Joy', the first single from 'Hard Cold Fire'.
There's a quick break from the chaos as their thunderous stickman, Neil made a dash to the front of the stage to help a young lad getting crushed by the crowd. He was allowed to stand at stage side to watch the rest of the show. The show resumed at a frantic pace featuring more songs from the new album. Deep cuts like 'Totally Random Man' and long time favourites 'Turn' and 'Stories' with the band finishing the set with the legendary 'Diane' and 'Teethgrinder'.
Back for the encore and we receive another welcome rarity in 'Bloody Blue'. The finale includes a snippet of a Killings Joke song (Requiem) alongside favourites 'Potato Junkie', 'Die Laughing', the massive chart hit 'Screamager' and finishing with the anthem of my life, the mighty 'Nowhere'.
As has always been the case over the years, an incredible night with Therapy? I expect my 30th year of seeing Therapy? to be much the same! See you in Birmingham and Belgrade!
By Matt Cordwell