Nothing But Thieves 10.12.24 The Rooftop @ Pier 17

Words & Photos by Marco Denzer

With an imposing New York City skyline as backdrop and a beautiful autumn sky overhead, Nothing But Thieves performed an impassioned show at The Rooftop at Pier 17 last Saturday evening, and they didn’t disappoint. As the Essex, England based band is currently on the road in support of their fourth and highly acclaimed studio album “Dead Club City”, the show at the famed NYC venue with privileged views of Manhattan and Brooklyn was one of many scheduled as part of their extensive North American Tour.

Supporting artists Bad Nerves ignited the opening set of the night with a high-octane punk rock performance that blasted everyone’s energy level from zero to max in the span of only a few bars. Their set, which included tunes like “Baby Drummer”, “Can’t Be Mine” and “Electric 88” can be simply and best described as a jolt of high energy and tons of fun.

Nothing But Thieves, the quintet featuring musicians Conor Mason (lead vocals, guitar), Joe Langridge-Brown (backing vocal, guitar, keyboards), Dom Craik (backing vocal, guitar, keyboards), Phil Blake (bass), and James Price (drums) delighted the crowd with many of the songs from their latest release, but they also included a vast selection of titles from their previous productions including “Moral Panic”, “Broken Machine” and “Nothing But Thieves”.

Their setlist included a broad variety of their repertoire and it visibly satisfied both long-time as well as new fans of the band. The good vibes were in full display as people happily danced and sang along with their music during the show. The band’s distinguishable and uncanny ability to bridge between the styles and sounds of alternative dance and heavy guitar-based rock is extremely captivating and engaging. And as a result of that, their twenty-song set was varied and dynamic, similar to the manner in which Conor shifts between singing in falsetto and full voice. As demonstrated in songs like “Sorry”, “Tomorrow Is Closed” and their popular hit “Amsterdam”, there were passages of quiet and romantic tenderness and moments of unbridled passion. It was terrific.

Nothing But Thieves will continue with their long list of concerts as part of the North American Tour, including shows in Canada and Mexico, before returning to Europe to continue touring there.

Setlist:
Oh No: He Said What?
Futureproof
Is Everybody Going Crazy?
Tomorrow Is Closed
Soda
Trip Switch
If I Were You
City Haunts
For Ever and Ever More
If I Get High
Sorry
Jam
Unperson
Impossible
Welcome to the DCC
Always, Always

Where Is My Mind? (Pixies cover)
Amsterdam
Encore:
I’m Not Made By Design
Overcome

Gallery +