Review: Placebo at Bristol Sounds
Posted on: 01 Jul 2024On Friday fans of 90s alt-rock band Placebo descended on harbourside venue Lloyds Amphitheatre as the band played their first gig in Bristol since 2015. As the crowd filled up the venue, we were treated to the sounds of up-and-comers Friedberg and Porridge Radio.
Placebo first appeared on the scene in the mid-90s and provided a darker, more subversive antidote to the Britpop phenomenon of the same era. With their first album release in 1996 their career has spanned an impressive 28 years and counting, and during that time they have amassed a loyal fan base of fans both young and old.
At the start of the show we were played a recorded message of frontman Brian Molko requesting that people do not spend the entire gig filming and taking photos. He urged the crowd to ‘live in the here and now’ in a moment that would never happen again. His request was met by cheers – and largely obeyed throughout, which made for a refreshing (almost) screen-free gig experience.
The show kicked off with fan favourite ‘Taste in Men’, which perfectly showcased Brian’s haunting vocals and got the crowd going straight away. It was followed by ‘Beautiful James’, a slow, emotionally charged track from their most recent album Never Let Me Go, and then the more lively ‘Scene of the Crime’.
Although in the past the band have been criticised for leaving many of their older songs out of their set list, as a long-time fan I felt that their Bristol show had the perfect mix of classic Placebo songs and newer releases. It was a welcome surprise to hear ‘Bionic’, one of the rockier tunes from their first album, but it was their hit song ‘Every You Every Me’ that really delighted the crowd (and prompted some to try to evade the no filming rule).
Another standout song was ‘Too Many Friends’, whose lyrics reflect on the detrimental effects of social media on our society, and fit well with Brian’s earlier message to live in the here and now. For this track bassist Stefan Olsdal accompanied Brian’s vocals on piano, further showcasing the band’s impressive technical skills. The set drew to a close with some classic Placebo numbers including ‘Slave to the Wage’ and ‘The Bitter End’, followed by one of the band’s most popular songs – ‘Nancy Boy’.
After a short pause and much applause from the crowd, Brian, Stefan and the rest of the band returned to the stage for an encore comprising ‘Infra-Red’ and ‘Running Up That Hill’, their stunning cover of Kate Bush’s track.
Brian and Stefan then left the stage to an extended outro of distorted sounds and feedback, creating a somewhat unsettling atmosphere that left us wondering whether it really was the end of the show. A fitting finale for a band that has consistently defied stereotypes and expectations throughout their long and successful career.
Header image: Holly Nicholas
Body images: Nadine Ballantyne
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Holly is a freelance content writer and editor who enjoys writing about music, food and floristry. Originally from Hertfordshire, she moved to Bristol a couple of years ago for its fantastic music scene (particularly drum and bass). In her free time she enjoys going to festivals, practising aerial hoop and pottering about at the allotment. You can find her at www.hollynicholas.co.uk.
