The Molotovs Deliver Punk Energy To Nottingham (Gig Review)

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On 13th January, punk group The Molotovs took their ‘Wasted On Youth’ tour to Nottingham’s own Rescue Rooms. The tour celebrates their debut album, which drops on 30th January. With this tour still in its early days, having previously visited the likes of Exeter’s The Cavern, the feedback is already looking great.

Sibling duo Issey and Mathew Cartlidge have talent way beyond their years. Both may still be teenagers, yet bring a visual and musical style which is reminiscent of punks, mods, and rockers that took the seventies and the eighties by storm. I was just as excited to see their style and stage presence as I was to hear their music.

Venue and Opener

I’ve seen a handful of gigs at Rescue Rooms in the past few months, and I think this venue is perfect for anything punk, hardcore, or of a similar style. The atmosphere is always friendly, as well as the space being intimate enough to feel the energy perfectly. Furthermore, this specific tour champions independent venues, with some staples across the UK being played at. To see some of my favourite venues featured on this tour made it feel handcrafted for the independent music scene. Just another reason to like these guys.

The Velvet Tuxedo began the night with a blend of garage rock and freakbeat. They’ve certainly gained a new fan in me with music that is exactly what I love to hear. Something about their sound definitely reminds me of The Cramps. I hadn’t thought to check who the opener was before attending, so this set was a great surprise. They had high energy and a stylised appearance that certainly set the stage up for the headliners. I’d highly recommend checking out their socials and having a listen to ‘Don’t Tell Me Lies‘.

The Main Event

Moving on to the main attraction, The Molotovs were just what I’d hoped for. Above all, it was high energy with a solid setlist that stayed consistent to the end. The crowd responded well to practically every song played. I could see these guys doing great at much larger venues and festivals, as they seem to be able to carry their energy across a big space perfectly. Their track ‘More More More‘ was a great representation of this. It felt as though the majority of the crowd were big fans, judging by the number of people who knew this one word-for-word.

I’m a fan of a strong bassist. I think that Issey is great at maintaining the consistency of each song. Their stage presence is vibrant and high-energy, which can sometimes be a disaster for losing the quality of the music itself. However, I think she is a great musician who can tie the sound together nicely. The duo is joined by drummer Noah Riley for this tour; he slots in perfectly and is a great asset throughout the night. Even with sounds as free and limitless as punk, there needs to be a strong backbone to keep the band afloat.

The pair has already garnered plenty of experience, and this is apparent in their confidence. From years of busking as well as supporting legends like Frank Carter & the Sex Pistols, this impressive back catalogue of performances has made its mark. Matt certainly sings and performs as though he’s been doing this his entire life. Even as the final song of the night was played, ‘Get A Life‘ from the upcoming record, his energy and persona were still full of life.

Final Thoughts

I walked away wishing more was available to stream already. I’ve had the opener, ‘Urbia‘, stuck in my head for days! I’d say that The Molotovs are going to go far, but I feel like they already are. The accolades they have under their belt already are impressive. Furthermore, they seem to be continuing down this winning path. This tour only seems to be the latest addition to their ever-growing success story.

The Molotovs are on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. You can check out their Spotify below and read more live reviews here.

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