Photo Credit: Lia Qin
From shutting down Berwick Street in London to taking on grassroots venues across the UK, sibling duo The Molotovs embarked on a huge run of a dates in January in support of their upcoming debut album ‘Wasted on Youth‘.
Midlands psychedelic band The Crystal Teardrop warmed up the already packed venue ahead of the headliner. A highly intense performance from the 5-piece act was a worthy addition to the line-up. From bassist Ed Quigley’s leaping jumps that were very Bruce Foxton-esque, to Alexandra’s spectacular vocals that felt like a trip back in time but also gave them a modern edge that could appeal to a much younger audience.
Making their way on to the stage, the capacity Sheffield crowd cheered in excitement, preparing themselves for a set filled with raw energy. Kicking off with ‘Urbia‘, the tenacity from the start from both Matthew and Issey is just one of many reasons why The Molotovs are a worthy watch. ‘Newsflash‘ and a cover of David Bowie’s ‘Suffragette City‘ saw the crowds enthusiasm begin to shine quickly. There were no signs of slowing down those, as Issey launched herself around the stage in between lyrics, while Matthew maintained focus and unleashed a forceful display that clearly mirrors the ferocity The Jam were known for back in the 1970’s.
Drummer Noah Riley’s display wasn’t going to be forgotten anytime soon. The energy was shared equally between the three on stage, as it continued in every single song, each one being packed with intensity. The albums’ title track followed by ‘Wasting My Time‘, ‘Is There Any Hope?‘ and ‘Rhythm of Yourself‘ kept the Steel City audience enthralled into the latter stage of the performance. Fan favourite ‘More More More‘ saw the pace pick up to a new level, before ‘Come On Now‘ concluded track sixteen of the night before one final song for the encore.
Rounding off a spectacular display on a cold Tuesday night with ‘Get A Life‘, The Molotovs bowed out of Sheffield with their heads held high, and were met with a thunderous cheer for what could be their last show of this size in this city for the foreseeable future.
Cramming 17 songs into an hours performance (nine of those featured on the upcoming album) details the band certainly mean business. The only breather they took was either to get in tune ahead of the next song, or where Matthew thanked the crowd for their support and pre-ordering the album as they aim for a Top 10 spot in the Official UK Album Charts. The Molotovs‘ year doesn’t stop there though. As they prepare for a string of spring indoor festivals and an arena support tour, the back end of 2026 could see the band take on much bigger heights on their own accord.
Photo Credits:
Lia Qin – Sheffield, Hallamshire Hotel
@midlandstomanchester – Manchester, Gorilla
Abby Malone – Blackpool, Bootleg Social
Robin James – Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
Taped Magazine 