Live Review: Therapy? – KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
25th March 2022
Support: James and the Cold Gun
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
If there’s one band who have consistently released good albums and put on killer live shows across their whole of their career it’s Therapy? From playing the likes of Donington (back when playing Donington meant something) to playing club shows across the world. Therapy? have done it all and never once have they failed to deliver.
This tour, originally scheduled to be their 30th anniversary tour, and then their 31st anniversary tour, marks the bands 32nd anniversary. We, of course, have COVID to blame for the delays, but it's wonderful to be finally celebrating with the band at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton.
Opening act are James and the Cold Gun, who claim to be South Wales Loudest band, I’m sure Phil Campbell and his sons would have something to say about that… however front man James Joseph gets things kicked off in style with a big high kick as the band lay into their set.
As the only support act of the evening the band get plenty of time to ply their wares. They will be new to most people in attendance – apart from those of us who saw them support The Wildhearts in this same venue – and they certainly win over a swathe of new fans with their upbeat, loud classic rock sound.
But it’s really Therapy? everyone is here for and it’s not long until the legends take to the stage. The trio of Andy, Michael and Neil bring their no frills rock assault to Wolverhampton and we are grateful they have. The setlist tonight is a career spanning affair celebrating their 32 years on the scene, some classics and some deep cuts all get an airing.
They open their set exactly as they opened their career with 'Meat Abstract', the opening track from their debut album. It has those raw qualities a young band always display and it’s a great way to start the evening. Early highlights include ‘Die Laughing’, ‘Prison Breaker’ and ‘Trigger Inside’ in the first half of this near two hour set.
Andy Cairns developed a great rapport with the fans whilst on his solo acoustic tour a few years ago and that continues tonight as he shares stories of the bands career between songs, being high wearing a woman's dress in the middle of Belfast during the troubles and more. The stories add and extra quality to the show and bring the fans deep into the Therapy? world.
After ‘Teethgrinder’ Andy announces “this is an old Irish folk song” as the band step into “Potato Junkie” and we are soon all singing “James Joyce is fucking my sister” in unison.
Today is Michael McKeegans birthday and he’s hand picked ‘Breaking The Law’ to celebrate, suitable given tonight’s venue although KK is not in attendance. Their rendition of the Judas Priest classic every bit as good, if not better than the original.
It wouldn’t be a Therapy? show without ‘Knives’ and ‘Screamager’ and the pairing round out a wonderful evening.
All photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
