British Modern Punk Legends IDLES Deliver Raw Energy That Left No Fan Idle During a Rare South Florida Appearance – Review and Photos of the IDLES Concert at the Revolution Live in Ft Lauderdale, FL

Fans of punk rock were lined up around the block this past Monday at the Revolution Live as they waited in the sweltering heat for the rare opportunity to witness the Bristol-based collective IDLES. The show drew a sold out crowd, with many people driving up to Orlando to catch the second Florida show the next day as the group spends a lot of their time touring the rest of the world instead of focusing just on the United States (and it’s hard enough to get even a US based band to come down to Florida sometimes). The Revolution Live’s outdoor area served as the perfect setting for the concert, giving fans a chance to catch IDLES in a much more intimate setting than at a festival such as Bonnaroo (which they will be playing later this week).

Kicking off the party was Ekko Astral, an up and coming punk band from Washington DC with a very unique aesthetic. The five-piece exploded onto the stage in a screech of feedback, blending raw blazing guitars with guttural drums and driving bass lines,  resulting in a performance that (while a little unpolished) stays true to their punk rock roots. Existing on the opposite end of the spectrum of the noise that usually comes out of our nation’s capital, the band’s lyrics speak on both social and political issues as well as well as love and acceptance of identity. Focusing mainly on their most recently released album “Pink Balloons“, Ekko Astral shredded through their setlist with unfiltered passion, and picked up plenty of new fans on the way by the time they finished their time on stage.

As the sun set over the venue, the lights dimmed once again as excitement began to build for the main event. The moment Joe Talbot and the rest of the band stepped on to the stage, the crowd began to roar with electrified excitement. IDLES kicked off the festivities with IDEA 01 and Colossus, and the crowd responded to the band’s ferocious energy in kind. The group’s setlist focused not only on their most recent album “TANGK” released earlier this year, but also their earlier albums such as “Brutalism” and “Joy as an Act of Resistance“, ensuring every fan got to hear their favorite song during the incredible 25 song marathon that IDLES performed.

One of the standout aspects of the night was IDLES‘ interaction with the audience. The band’s frequent forays into the crowd and singer Joe Talbot’s heartfelt speeches between songs fostered a sense of shared community and solidarity with those suffering in the world. Its hard to understate the incredible energy that the band brought to their live performance, and it truly is one of those things you have to experience first-hand to understand. Guitarists Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan, along with bassist Adam Devonshire and drummer Jon Beavis, played with a frenetic intensity that was contagious. The band finished up their time on stage with a cover of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and what is perhaps their most popular song, “Rottweiler“, as the crowd went into a frenzy and cheered for more. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to their music, IDLES‘ live performance is an experience not to be missed. Here’s hoping they stop by Florida once again the next time the band decides to tour America!