Getting THERAPY? in Sweden tomorrow night!

CONCERTS Seminal Irish rockers THERAPY? will be paying Sweden a visit for the next 2 nights on their European tour, and I couldn't be happier. Certainly a band I've been eager to see for quite some time now. Apart from hearing old gems as well as some cuts from the latest LP, A Brief Crack of Light, I'd bet a dime there will be a lot of Gibson SG's, black suits and perhaps a certain Battle...

Andy Cairns (Therapy?) with Cormac Battle, frontman of Kerbdog and Wilt.

Being a big fan of Therapy? as well as Kerbdog and Wilt, it would be a real treat to see Andy and Cormac sharing a stage. They have actually toured in Ireland together this past summer, but that's probably nothing we'll see over here in Scandinavia anytime soon, unfortunately. Kerbdog especially, is very much a national treasure that few (me excluded) outside Ireland and Britain seem to be be familiar with. Definitely check them out if you like some good old 90's rock with a nice edge, that also with some pop sensibility and clever songwriting to it.



But anyway, back to Therapy? Seeing this band for the first time, I'm of course hoping on hearing a nice blend of highlights of their 20+ year long career. Rather than (like some bands) play 4 classic songs and 10 cuts off their latest CD (is that what they're called these days?), thus alienating anyone who still hasn't bought/borrowed/stolen/downloaded it. And it seems like their planned set list won't disappoint, knock on wood.

To give an idea of what to expect, here's a set list of a recent gig, in Dublin, Ireland, on August 25th of 2012:

1. Intro
2. Isolation (Joy Division cover)
3. Nausea
4. Unbeliever
5. Before You, With You, After You
6. Die Laughing
7. Teethgrinder
8. Rust
9. If It Kills Me
10. Exiles
11. Living In The Shadow Of A Terrible Thing
12. Epilepsy
13. Stories
14. Potato Junkie
15. Nowhere

What's interesting about it, is how only one tune is from their new 2012 album; namely its first single "Living In The Shadow Of A Terrible Thing". The lack of new material is nothing that bothers me to much, however, being a lot more familiar with the older stuff. The new album is a bit too much like "modern" metal for my taste, to be frank. I personally prefer the quirky old stuff from Babyteeth, as well as the more punky tunes of Troublegum and High Anxiety.

But what bothers me the more, is the fact that their perhaps most recognised single to date; Screamager, was omitted. To me that's like seeing Nirvana and don't get any Teen Spirit. Which ironically Kurt and the gang occasionally left out from their gigs back in the day, just to tease.

In either way, I hope they'll better rehearsed than myself, recording this:



And as if that wasn't enough painful to your ears, here's a couple more unrehearsed, half-assed Therapy? covers for your "enjoyment" - played by yours truly:

Dancin' with Manson

Hey Satan - You Rock

See you tomorrow night!

Therapy? plays in Gothenburg on the 23rd and in Stockholm the night after; the 24th of October, 2012.

/theJo