Hurts - Are a band to die for!

October 26th 2013

London, The Troxy, UK

****1/2

Hurts bring themselves up a level!

Hurts ****1/2 build up the anticipation with what it seems five different mini intro's before they break into opening number 'Mercy'. Theo comes onto the raised platform where his microphone stand and Adam's piano resides. Theo has a hood over his head looking very menacing, like Marilyn Manson when he comes on with his hood up for his shows.

It really sets a errie scene and gives you dark feelings. This song is one of the stand out tracks on the bands last album 'Exile' and is one of the darkest tracks the band have ever produced, so really makes a cool dark cloud over the beginning of the bands set. They continue with another song of this record the anthem Esq. 'Miracle' which sounds like a cross between Coldplay and Depeche Mode and sounds so big in The Troxy tonight.

Hurts are a band that have not really changed their live set that much and I can't decide if that is a good or bad thing, they have progressed to the next level but what do they need to do to go up again to the size of bands like The Killers, Coldplay and The National. 'Silver Lining' from their first album is as good as ever but album title track 'Happiness' is a sad absence from the bands set, but this is the 'Exile' tour not the 'Happiness' tour so I think maybe they thought they better leave it out. Adam during the set goes from keyboard to guitar with not saying hardly a word for the whole set, keeping his dark haunting presence on stage and a kind of mystery behind him. I think they do play breakthrough hit 'Wonderful Life' too early in the set, it's a favourite and I think should be played nearer the end of the set.

They show the strength of 'Exile' with the single 'Somebody to die For' and the some what annoying but brilliant 'Blind', I only say it's annoying because I spend my life singing the wooh, wooh bit and it is driving me insane. I do have a love hate relationship with this track, I do love it but I kind of want my brain back. 'Everlyn' for me over the years has grown as a song and Adam always is quite cool when he plays the guitar riffs to it. While 'Cupid' sounds like they have joined Depeche Mode for the day which isn't a band thing at all. A stand out moment in the set is the brilliant 'Blood, Sweat and Gold' which tonight is done acoustic and is really personal, and sounds great with the crowd singing every word. 'Sandman' is another great moment in the bands set with everyone in the crowd swaying their arms back and forth.

Their is also great moments when they play 'Illuminated' and the band get everyone to hold up their phones to illuminate the venue. Also another great moment is when they play 'The Road' and Theo smashes his microphone stand into pieces with quite an amount of force, this is so cool to watch and I would love to watch it in repeat.

They come back on for the encore of 'Better than Love' which is an anthem in Europe and with songs like this maybe they are 'Better than Love' because sometimes love doesn't work out and Hurts can really put about that in a song. Ending with 'Help' a song that everyone sings a long to but for me seems like an odd choice to end the set with. This is a brilliant night for Hurts and the screams of appreciation show that everyone enjoyed it and so did I but I think the Heaven show will take some beating but that was a different atmosphere completely

. Hurts are one of my favourite bands and I will run out and see them every time they play and I strongly advise you to as well because they always put on a good show. Theo has also got more lively recently jumping around to a few songs so I think in a few years their show will be stadium sized or at least see them headlining the London, o2 Arena.