Nothing But Thieves (The Troubadour)

The Troubadour | Los Angeles, CA | February 8, 2016 | Photos: Cortney Armitage |

We’re not even going to pretend not to have been blown away by what went down at the Troubadour, one of music’s most esteemed stages.

While the Queens of the Stone Age song “Sick, Sick, Sick” played, if you canted your head up towards the sound, Conor Mason (vox, guitar), Joe Langridge-Brown (guitar), James Price (drums), Dominic Craik (guitar), and Philip Blake (bass) could be seen mentally prepping along to the desert rock tune in the green room above and we highly approve of their pre-show music choice. Technically this was Nothing But Thieves’ third Los Angeles show, but it felt like their first proper LA gig: and one that just happened to be sold out for weeks. And as proper LA gigs go – first or otherwise – it was a hell of a banger. The setlist boasted many of the band’s most popular songs from their self-titled debut album such as “Trip Switch,” “Itch,” Excuse Me” and “Honey Whiskey” along with a damned expansive and crunchy rendition of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind” (a band Mason cited as influential to the group). Audience heads banged, actor RJ Mitte (featured in their new “If I Get High” video) was present and Nothing But Thieves all but raised the roof like rock solid professionals with their opulent and ambitious take on modern rock. Not only did the they sound good, but they looked good: as if they were having the time of their lives on the Troubadour stage even if Mason claims he can’t play guitar for shit. But with a voice as sublime as his, we can overlook that.