Rocking the Boat: The K's Electrify Thekla on the Final Night of Tour with Sweaty, Energetic Performance
Four-piece The K’s, hailing from Earlestown, finished their UK tour promoting their debut album, I Wonder if the World Knows, with an exhilarating sold-out performance at Bristol’s Thekla last Saturday.
The anticipation in the air was palpable as the lights dimmed and I made my way through the crowd to begin shooting the set. With no photo pit, I was immediately immersed into their world, among the family The K's have built over the years. The crowd erupted into chants of "Who are The K's?", drinks were thrown in the air, and there was a growing excitement for the dancing and moshing to come. It was one of the first true warm days of the year, and the sold-out Thekla promised a hot, sweaty, and very intimate show.
The K's took the stage with Icarus, starting with soft violins and cello before kicking off into straight adrenaline, immediately igniting mosh pits and a loud sing-along. This song set the tone for the evening, combining electrifying energy with heartfelt sing-alongs. The infectious Chancer followed swiftly after, with its upbeat riffs prompting even more mosh pits. "Happy Saturday, Bristol! We're buzzing to be here!".
Heart On My Sleeve's performance perfectly encapsulated the band's essence, with soaring guitars and drums coupled with relatable lyrics that engaged the crowd on the floor and balcony and mark it as a highlight of the night for many. As the heat continued to rise, the band asked the crowd to look after each other. Lead Jamie Boyle began, "It's the last stop of our UK tour, and this should've been the Album Show where we play it from start to finish. But we thought, “Bristol? On a Saturday night for just one hour? F*ck that!" resulting in loud cheers from the crowd. "We love the f*cking energy, we love you all, and thank you for coming down and finishing this tour with us. Let's have a mental time!"
Each song added to the frenzy with more mosh pits, spilt beers, and loud sing-alongs. Despite his injury, Ryan Breslin's guitar skills remained unmatched, even when often playing on one leg or sitting down.
Throughout the night, the crowd's energy never waned, with highlights including Hoping Maybe, beginning with a snippet of Girls Just Want to Have Fun as Boyle switched to an acoustic guitar, prompting the loudest response of the night, and Throw It All Away, a true stadium anthem and testament to the band's journey and success. Boyle commented on his favourite album track: "If you've been following us for a bit, you would know we've been going on for about six, seven years now. We've done everything and put our all into everything, and there come times when you feel like you're almost there, and then it feels like it was all for nothing. And then you have a number three album and a sold-out UK tour. Have a f*cking drink to that, Bristol!".
The band showcased their versatility as the night progressed with acoustic numbers like Lights Go Down and Valley One. Fans were hoisted onto shoulders, with torches waving, and all hands were in the air as 400 voices joined Boyle and his acoustic guitar. "F*cking hell Bristol, that was the best of the tour!", the band proclaimed.
Aurora, one of the band's greatest hits and a staple on the setlist, rounded off the end of the main set. The fancy guitar riffs pushed the crowd to their limit, "true chaos", as Boyle recalled at the song's end. The band left the stage before the inevitable encore.
Boyle and Breslin returned to the stage to loud chants of Hey Baby by DJ Ötzi, beginning arguably the most captivating performance of the night - a duet. Under single spotlights, Breslin entranced the audience on keys while Boyle captivated everyone with his vocals. Without his guitar, Boyle's vocals were on a true display of their range in tune to Breslin's keyboard. The 2020 release Valley One pays homage to all fans who have been with the band since 2020 and before - truly a goosebump performance. The entire band could not stop grinning as the song ended, simply saying, "Go on, Bristol, that was the best we've ever played it and the best crowd."
The tempo picked up once again for the final two songs of the night, two more staples to the setlist. Hometown reignited the moshpits, with Nathan Peers hyping up the fans further in the bridge on drums, voices resonating loud and clear. The final roaring piece was the anthem Sarajevo, the band's 2017 debut single. Dexter Baker's bass comes through strong, accelerating at the start of the track. Despite the exhaustion after a full UK tour and the sweltering venue, the band and fans went fully out for one last time, marking the end of an unforgettable night.
Exiting the venue, I immediately spotted the band meeting and speaking with fans, even Breslin on crutches hobbling around, making sure every person was spoken to. It was a testament to the band's dedication and connection with their audience, but also clearly of their love and appreciation for the ever-growing family they've built from their music.
The K's delivered a sweaty, energetic, and unforgettable performance at Thekla on their final night of the tour, leaving the audience craving more of their raw, unapologetic rock sound. From the soaring guitars to heartfelt lyrics, each song showcased their growth over the last eight years as a band and their passion for the art they create. With a dedication to remaining connected to their fans and putting on the best performances that create memories to last a lifetime, the K's prove yet again that they are the next band to be on the lookout for in the live music scene.
Photography by Alisa Fridman.