Arms locked, shoulders bared and eyes lifted upwards, The Snuts fanbase take their gigs seriously. The West Lothian rockers graced Leeds’ O2 Academy with an intense whirlwind of frenzy. Chaotically touring their new album Millennials, released this February, they’re a band that is proving that they’re only moving from strength to strength.
Cochrane’s signature sunglasses reflected the thousands of outstretched arms ahead of him as he wandered onto the stage, casual but the growing ferocity was quick to possess Scotland’s favoured frontman. His voice is somehow getting better, what was a good sound & noisy shout on W.L(2021) is emerging as a true quality vocal. However, he’s only as good as the men behind him, McGillveray, Wilson, and Mackay are a tight unit of smashing indie-rock sound night after night. Their bond as a band is unmistakable and they’ve found an immensely satisfying flow, leaning into the frenzy before them and channelling their energy.
A balancing act of mostly new album tracks and standouts from their 2021 debut made up the set, with top fan favourites from Burn The Empire lighting up the setlist. New songs to the tour ‘Novastar’ and ‘Yo-yo’ were bursting with energy from the band that was echoed back tenfold by the crowd. Almost drowned out by the masses ahead of them at points, the atmosphere in the academy felt like being physically shaken, rattling off the walls and into your bones. Unbeaten in a good time is the simplest way to put it. From seeing them nearly dead on 3 years ago to now, a lot has changed, moved forward and grown with experience but the raucous, insatiable electricity they produce certainly hasn’t died down.
Punchy, angry, and noisy, what more can you want from them? They deliver time and time again, appearing up and down the country and on festival lineups across Europe every year. It feels like a gift to catch them at a venue of this size off the back of such a hit album and a selfish side of me wishes they won’t get any bigger, yet undoubtedly they will. Will they ever sleep? It doesn’t seem so, thank god.
‘All Your Friends’ was, of course, a standout. The slow bassline has become a mantra for indie fans, one to be bellowed back during the gig, and on the sweaty walk home. Holding onto each other and pushing out for pit after pit, I wondered how they managed to keep pushing, but of course, they make it look easy.
Their encores are always memorable, always sticking with you and ringing in your ears for a good day or two after, but their Leeds show had a twist we certainly didn’t expect. Donned in bright orange cone hats, and even a full body costume, The Snuts took the same with the same ferocity and confidently announced they’d “Lost a few bets recently”. Unlucky for some, but not for the lucky few who caught the flailing luminous accessories flying overhead midway through ‘Circles’. Cochrane was quick to rid himself of his, god bless his curls, but drummer Mackay was proudly orange all the way through to final track “Gloria”. A cult classic for Snuts fans, a real belter of a finale. After all, they’ve been itching for it all night. Will the Snuts fans ever be sated? I hope, and truly believe not, but let it be known the really did throw themselves as far as they could get. Shoes knocking into skulls, sweat pressed against their spines. The Snuts cannot be matched, and may they only grow stronger.
Words by Millie Cain