Idles is exactly what rock and roll needs right now. Their music is fantastic, their live shows are high energy and in your face, they’re affable— and to put it succinctly; they’re woke. In the current sociopolitical climate that both the U.S. and the U.K. find themselves, these five British blokes ensure their messages of inclusiveness, feminism, anti-classism, and anti-racism are definitively pronounced in both their recorded music and live shows. 

Idles formed in 2009, but it wasn’t until their 2018 album Joy as an Act of Resistance, my favorite album of that year, that they really exploded. Their music possesses the traits of empathy and vulnerability while simultaneously being ferocious. Their love of music is evident in their performance. I’ve seen them thrice and all three times they were terrific. They should be on every music lover’s list to catch live. 

Out of all the marvelous “post-punk” bands that have come of out the UK, Idles has become my favorite. I have zero hesitation when saying it is my opinion that they are presently the best currently active rock band in the world.  At their Lollapalooza after show at Lincoln Hall, members of Cage the Elephant and The Strokes were in attendance. If Julian Casablancas thinks you’re rad, then no other compliment is needed. 

Tune into Idles’ 2020 album Ultra Mono here, and watch their live performance of “Carcinogenic” for Independent Venue Week below.