Three decades on, Irish-Anglo alt metal trio Therapy? are celebrating their biggest album with the 'Troublegum 30' tour. Four dates into the trek that will see them perform the album all over Europe, they landed in Dublin on Halloween night (31st October 2024) for an evening of raucous punky metal and angsty anthems in the glorious surroundings of the Olympia theatre.
Photo: Darren McLoughlin.
Released in February 1994, 'Troublegum' is unquestionably Therapy?'s defining album. Four hit singles, a Mercury Music Prize nomination, Kerrang! magazine's album of the year, and sales in excess of one million units mean that it towers over everything they've done. And rightly so, because it's a masterpiece. So when front man Andy Cairns exclusively revealed to eonmusic last year that the band were planning a huge celebration to mark its thirtieth anniversary, you can bet your ass we were excited.
Noting, during that chat at Stonedead Festival that it would be by far the most extensive run of dates celebrating the milestone album that they'd ever planned, he said; "it's going to be a genuine celebration; it's thirty years, man, it's a big thing!" Clearly, the man that wrote the vast majority of the thing was excited too.
More than a year after that conversation, the three-piece completed by founding bassist Michael McKeegan and perennial birthday boy Neil Cooper are in Dublin at the beginning of the thirty-date - how appropriate! - run that will see them play the album in its entirety. Not only that, but as the night unfolds, it becomes clear that this is an era-appropriate set, with every song performed coming exclusively from 'Troublegum' and the period before it. Plainly speaking, these are the songs that built their reputation, and that chart their rise from indie also-rans to mainstream success.
It would however, be all too easy to play the album in its running order, so the biggest shock comes when it's not 'Knives' that opens the evening, but the buzzsaw riffage of 'Stop it You're Killing Me'. Following with 'Isolation', it's clear that it will be anything but predictable, and as the floor erupts, the first surprise arrives, in the 'Shortsharpshock E.P.'s 'Totally Random Man'.
A twisting 'Turn' leads into 'Auto Surgery' - another deep cut from the 'Shortsharpshock E.P.' - before an anarchic 'Trigger inside'. Mixing the set up like this offers an an interesting twist on the format, and it means that the band is always one step ahead of the crowd.
It's utterly combustible and shockingly good fun, but at this point, Cairns pauses to make a serious point; "we're selling shirts for medical aid for Palestinian", he says, noting that proceeds from the 'Stop It You’re Killing Me' t-shirt will go to humanitarian aid in the middle east, before dedicating a truly ferocious 'Brainsaw' to "all the brave people in Gaza and the Lebanon". With many already adorned in the said shirt, and singing passionately along to the "I'm in hell and I'm alone!" refrain, Andy admits; "that was spectacular!"
With the evening at the midway point, the 'Evil Priest' takes to the mic; "Andy, do you have a riff for the good people of Dublin, and beyond?", he asks, with the guitar player answering with the d-tuned opening to 'Unbeliever'. As ferocious as the album version, it ranks among the night's many highlights.
A rare outing for 'Opel Mantra' follows, a track that is arguably the greatest non-album single in the band's history, followed by the always joyous 'Die Laughing', tonight dedicated almost exclusively to Irish heroes - producer Steve Albini, also gets a mention - with Sinead O'Connor, Phil Lynott, Gary Moore, and Shane McGowan all getting a shout out.
Bringing the main set to a close, a teasing snippet of Manic Street Preachers' 'Motorcycle Emptiness' leads to a truly celebratory 'Nowhere', and as the band take their bows, there's a feeling in the room that this is indeed a special night.
It's not over yet, however. "Without further ado, shall we play some more songs?", asks Cairns, knowingly, and from here on in, it's utter mayhem, with crowd surfers. moshing, and general chaos disrupting the splendour of the Olympia. It's mayhem for 'Potato Junkie' in particular, and 'Teethgrinder' has the floor bouncing.
There's even a call back to 1994 Black Sabbath tribute album 'Nativity in Black', with an all too brief cover of 'Iron Man' - a song the band performed with Ozzy Osbourne for the officially sanctioned set.
"This has been fantastic, on Halloween night", declares Cairns after a victory lap one-two of 'Knives' and 'Screamager'; "Thanks for coming to check us out. Thank you for the last 35 years".
Taking to socials afterwards, the band said; "Dublin! That was all kinds of wonderful. It’s hard to express just how much your continuing support means to us. It was Halloween, a week night and there were a ton of other gigs on in the city yet still you came in your numbers and celebrated our Troublegum album with us. A huge thank you".
This is a unique occasion to celebrate one of the greatest albums in Irish music history. Miss it at your peril.
Check out our gallery from the show. All photos by Darren McLoughlin.
Noting, during that chat at Stonedead Festival that it would be by far the most extensive run of dates celebrating the milestone album that they'd ever planned, he said; "it's going to be a genuine celebration; it's thirty years, man, it's a big thing!" Clearly, the man that wrote the vast majority of the thing was excited too.
More than a year after that conversation, the three-piece completed by founding bassist Michael McKeegan and perennial birthday boy Neil Cooper are in Dublin at the beginning of the thirty-date - how appropriate! - run that will see them play the album in its entirety. Not only that, but as the night unfolds, it becomes clear that this is an era-appropriate set, with every song performed coming exclusively from 'Troublegum' and the period before it. Plainly speaking, these are the songs that built their reputation, and that chart their rise from indie also-rans to mainstream success.
It would however, be all too easy to play the album in its running order, so the biggest shock comes when it's not 'Knives' that opens the evening, but the buzzsaw riffage of 'Stop it You're Killing Me'. Following with 'Isolation', it's clear that it will be anything but predictable, and as the floor erupts, the first surprise arrives, in the 'Shortsharpshock E.P.'s 'Totally Random Man'.
A twisting 'Turn' leads into 'Auto Surgery' - another deep cut from the 'Shortsharpshock E.P.' - before an anarchic 'Trigger inside'. Mixing the set up like this offers an an interesting twist on the format, and it means that the band is always one step ahead of the crowd.
It's utterly combustible and shockingly good fun, but at this point, Cairns pauses to make a serious point; "we're selling shirts for medical aid for Palestinian", he says, noting that proceeds from the 'Stop It You’re Killing Me' t-shirt will go to humanitarian aid in the middle east, before dedicating a truly ferocious 'Brainsaw' to "all the brave people in Gaza and the Lebanon". With many already adorned in the said shirt, and singing passionately along to the "I'm in hell and I'm alone!" refrain, Andy admits; "that was spectacular!"
With the evening at the midway point, the 'Evil Priest' takes to the mic; "Andy, do you have a riff for the good people of Dublin, and beyond?", he asks, with the guitar player answering with the d-tuned opening to 'Unbeliever'. As ferocious as the album version, it ranks among the night's many highlights.
A rare outing for 'Opel Mantra' follows, a track that is arguably the greatest non-album single in the band's history, followed by the always joyous 'Die Laughing', tonight dedicated almost exclusively to Irish heroes - producer Steve Albini, also gets a mention - with Sinead O'Connor, Phil Lynott, Gary Moore, and Shane McGowan all getting a shout out.
Bringing the main set to a close, a teasing snippet of Manic Street Preachers' 'Motorcycle Emptiness' leads to a truly celebratory 'Nowhere', and as the band take their bows, there's a feeling in the room that this is indeed a special night.
It's not over yet, however. "Without further ado, shall we play some more songs?", asks Cairns, knowingly, and from here on in, it's utter mayhem, with crowd surfers. moshing, and general chaos disrupting the splendour of the Olympia. It's mayhem for 'Potato Junkie' in particular, and 'Teethgrinder' has the floor bouncing.
There's even a call back to 1994 Black Sabbath tribute album 'Nativity in Black', with an all too brief cover of 'Iron Man' - a song the band performed with Ozzy Osbourne for the officially sanctioned set.
"This has been fantastic, on Halloween night", declares Cairns after a victory lap one-two of 'Knives' and 'Screamager'; "Thanks for coming to check us out. Thank you for the last 35 years".
Taking to socials afterwards, the band said; "Dublin! That was all kinds of wonderful. It’s hard to express just how much your continuing support means to us. It was Halloween, a week night and there were a ton of other gigs on in the city yet still you came in your numbers and celebrated our Troublegum album with us. A huge thank you".
This is a unique occasion to celebrate one of the greatest albums in Irish music history. Miss it at your peril.
Check out our gallery from the show. All photos by Darren McLoughlin.
