HAVING played Glasgow to growing and more riotous crowds every time, Doncaster psych-punks The Blinders brought a plethora of crowd-raising anthems to a sold-out King Tuts for the opening night of their UK tour.
The atmosphere among the crowd was a true sentiment to the broad appeal of the band, a mix of young kids and aged punks who have dusted off their Docs to relive their youth in an atmosphere not unlike the underground scene of the late 70s and early 80s which saw bands like the Television Personalities playing to sweaty rooms with not a phone in sight.
True to their strong punk influence, frontman Thomas Haywood emerged onto the stage, face smeared in black make-up, reminiscent of the Misfits, as the band launched into ‘Gotta Get Through’: a dark, eerie and rallying opening song that undoubtedly acted as the ideal prequel to the remainder of the set. The main highlights of the set came in the shape of the band’s two latest singles ‘Brave New World’ and ‘Ramona Flowers’. The crowd rallied around these two songs in a manner that could only be described as riotous and it was in these moments that one has to stand back and appreciate that this band are really something special. They bring strangers from all walks of life, all genders and ages, into a shared experience fuelled by a sense of togetherness and distaste for celebrity culture; the kind that distracts from the raw talent which is truly in abundance in the UK right now.
The Blinders are undoubtedly one of the best live bands in the country right now and they get better every time you see them. With their potential to grow and progress as a band clear for all to see, it’s fair to say that 2018 already belongs to them. It’s a brave new world.
