Live Review: Takeaway Thieves @ The Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool on October 6th 2024

Blackpool’s favourite rock n roll rabble-rousers Takeaway Thieves return to their spiritual home, to celebrate the launch of their long-awaited second album “Diamond Point”. The Waterloo’s Sunday Service feels like an apt way to kick off this next stage of the Takeaway Thieves career as we all come together to worship at the altar of good-time rock n’ roll in the company of some of its greatest disciples… 

But first, we get a Question-and-Answer session, with the band lined up on a bench on stage, for all the world like a bunch of mischievous, giddy schoolboys. Questions range from musical inspirations and the origin of their name, to their hardest song to play, amongst others.  A riot of laughs and irreverence ensues (tales of naked shenanigans whilst in the recording studio for instance, give you some idea of the sort of raucous responses!), but what comes across even before a single note is played, is the camaraderie and affection between the band members; it’s fun and infectious in a way that reaches out and encompasses everyone present.  It feels like they’re the naughty, cool kids whose gang you want to hang out with, and you know what, they want you to join their gang too… 

The set proper, opens with an eyebrow singeing burst of pyro and the band launch into the first of the new numbers, the dramatic and powerful ‘Suicide 66’. Probably one of the heaviest songs the band have yet recorded, it’s a definite statement, a line in the sand, that says that this a band that aren’t afraid to do something different and challenge themselves by expanding and adding to their sound, with guitarist Ben Gibson firing off killer riffs (as he does throughout) and sporting a neon Purge mask in keeping with the dark drama of the number.  

''Kickin My Heart Around’ follows, and having been out as a single for a while, and therefore more familiar, gives the crowd their first opportunity to singalong and they do so with a passion.  As “danger, danger” echoes round the room, everyone is bouncing and moving, rarely letting up for the duration of the set. There’s a lot of smiles and happiness in the room, bolstered by numerous name checking and recognition of long-time fans and those who have helped along the way; it all adds to the positivity of the atmosphere and the sneaking suspicion that, with this new material, we’re witnessing the start of something rather special indeed. 

Takeaway Thieves have always been an exciting proposition live and this afternoon is no exception; on the contrary, it really feels that there is an added fire and vitality to their performance today, as if they know the strength of their new material and are bursting to share it with the world. Adam Hall on bass bounces around the stage like a Duracell bunny on speed, Neil Hunter on guitar is throwing shapes like his life depends on it, and Peter McLaughlin on vocals, barefoot and adorned with feathers, preens and struts like an old school rock god. And behind it all Max Yates is a towering presence on the kit, the anchor in this maelstrom, holding it all together with the perfect combination of expertly judged fills and a powerful, impeccable beat.  Quite how they manage to play so tightly in such a riot of movement remains one of life’s great mysteries… 

The action on stage is a constantly swirling feast for both the ears and eyes; it’s a fast, frenetic assault on the senses, the energy they generate picked up by the audience and reflected back to them, creating a circuit of heart, fun and rock n roll that is quite simply a delight to be a part of… 

Rather than run through the album in one go, the band mix it up with select cuts from their previous opus “9”, ensuring that the momentum never falters. So, oldie but goodie ‘Spider’ segues into new track the effervescent ‘True Story’, another earworm and surely a summer single, such is its shiny, upbeat and addictive refrain. ‘Gypsy’ by contrast is majestic, in its sweep and ambition, whilst keeping the unique Thieves signature. Even when they slow things down just a little on ‘Find My Way Home’ they are still always true to themselves and their mission statement of delighting and engaging the crowd. Peter does this with aplomb, a natural and gifted frontman, witty and arch, playing the rapt audience like an extra instrument, and with a fantastic voice to boot. But really this is a true band effort, each musician bringing their personality to bear to produce that unique special brew that characterises the band (you can almost picture the collectible Pop Vinyls of each of them when they become global superstars…). 

Across seventeen songs, the band deliver a tour-de-force performance, which shows the expanded range of their catalogue; there’s light and shade, power and delicacy, an uncanny ear for melody and more hooks than Fleetwood docks. ‘Sundance’ with its gang vocals and irresistible chorus gains a whole new stature live and kicks off a triumphant three song run to close the set, with ‘Soothe Me’ and the always oh so appropriate ‘This is Rock n Roll’ drawing the set to a breathless and jubilant conclusion. 

It can be sometimes be difficult evaluating songs on just one listen in the live environment, but somehow those from “Diamond Point” leap off the stage, straight into your cerebral cortex immediately feeling like old friends. It’s the natural evolution of the band, everything you loved about them but turned up to 11, the new songs being a quantum leap forward whilst still retaining the band’s unique identity. They’ve not so much taken a step up, but more jumped in the great rock n roll elevator and gone to a whole other level.  

That this is the first time some of these songs have been played live speaks volumes; if the quality we witnessed tonight is anything to go by, and the Takeaway Thieves maintain the trajectory they’re on and the album takes off like it undoubtedly will, then they are going to be quite simply unstoppable… 

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Takeaway Thieves