The Moshville Times - Gig Review: This Will Destroy You – Electric Ballroom, London (6th July 2018)

I came across This Will Destroy You by happy accident very recently when they appeared on a recommended playlist courtesy of a popular music streaming site. Their name grabbed my attention so I checked out their music and was instantly in love with their atmospheric instrumental tracks, featuring layers of effect-laden guitar. When they announced a show at the 1,500-capacity Electric Ballroom in Camden I snapped up a ticket straight away and had been really looking forward to the show ever since.

This Will Destroy You are an “experimental rock band” from Los Angeles who have been around an impressive 14 years, and in recent years have released 10th anniversary editions of their acclaimed albums Young Mountain (2006) and S/T (2008). I really enjoy their ambient post-rock sound, and is the perfect go-to for when shouty / thrashy metal just isn’t what you are in the mood for and you need something altogether more relaxing. In fact I even played some IWDY in my office (small architecture practice), where my music very rarely gets played, so I think it appeals to a wide range of people!

Tonight’s show (their only UK headline show on their current tour) was one of a select few celebrating the release of the band’s latest album S/T: 10th Anniversary Edition (released last month). Doors were at the early time of 6pm so I rushed from work to get to the venue in time, only to discover that there were no acts and TWDY weren’t hitting the stage until 8:30pm. No bother though as the venue was air-conditioned so myself and others sat on the floor with cold beers and enjoyed the ambient sounds being played out by the DJ. By the time 8:30pm rolled round the room was getting very full indeed and most people had stood up in order to make way for the wave of people who had turned up after the football. There was a really nice and relaxed atmosphere in the room, which seemed fitting for the sort of live show we were about to experience.

This Will Destroy You stepped onto the stage to a huge cheer from the crowd and began their set by playing their 2016 album Young Mountain: 10th Anniversary Edition in its entirety, before playing S/T: 10th Anniversary Edition right the way through. It was truly a celebration of the band’s work and it was wonderful! Guitarists Jeremy and Christopher sat down close to the front of the stage, with Jesse on keys and bass and Robi on drums just a little further back. The band put their all into the performance, regularly closing their eyes and getting lost in the music they were producing, and it was fantastic to hear the tracks played live. Standing in a dark and air-conditioned room listening to some atmospheric instrumental music was the perfect way to relax after one of the hottest days of this summer so far!

The day after this special London show, TWDY made their way to BST Hyde Park as one of many s acts for The Cure’s 40th Anniversary show (the band’s only European show of 2018), together with the likes of Slow Dive and Pale Waves.

Photos by Katie Frost Photography