To see the Brattleboro, Vermont based four-piece Thus Love back in Glasgow after selling out The Hug and Pint as recently as August, this time at the larger Stereo, was an absolute joy. Their second album November 2024’s All Pleasure (Captured Tracks) saw them embrace not only line-up changes but joy in the follow up to their critical acclaimed debut 2022’s Memorial (Captured Tracks).
The show began with support band Ain’t. The London based five-piece released their debut single ‘Oar / Teething’ in August 2024 via Fear of Missing Out Records. They blend various influences including ‘90s guitar, post-punk, and shoegaze weaving between nostalgia and ingenuity. Comprised of George Ellerby (Guitar/Vox), Ed Randall (Guitar), Hanna Baker Darch (Vox), Chapman Ho (Bass Guitar), and Joe Lockstone (Drums), I was however disappointed that the lead singer was not called Dorothy! The red shoes were stunning and Hanna did make reference to them during their set!
And so to Thus Love. They opened with ‘Repetitoner‘. As I suspect with many fans this was my introduction to the band. It literally stopped me in my tracks on its release in October 2022, a “who IS this?” moment and I have been hooked ever since. The track’s instrumentation has been reworked slightly increasing still further its power and impact. A high mark indeed to start their set, a set which included a perhaps surprising number of tracks from debut Memorial. ‘Inamorato’, ‘Put On Dog’, ‘In Tandem’, ‘Anathema’ and ‘Centerfield’ were sprinkled amongst the more recent tracks. To be clear this is not a criticism, quite the opposite. The crowd in Stereo became more and more animated with each song. Thus Love are a band that if you fall for, and I challenge you not to, become almost an obsession. On second album All Pleasure they have evolved beautifully, just listen to that opening bassline on the first track ‘On The Floor’ played tonight after ‘Repetitioner’.
Second album All Pleasure saw Thus Love widen their musical horizons without losing the core of who they are. Along with ‘On the Floor’ tonight we heard ‘Birthday Song’, the swaggering ‘Get Stable’ ,’ House on a Hill’, ‘Show Me Patience’ and ‘Lost in Translation’. You know you are completely entranced by a live music performance when you just do not want it to end. Thus Love comprise lead singer and guitarist Echo Marshall, Lu Racine (drums) and more recent members Ally Juleen (bass) and Shane Blank (guitar, synths) and even though this is show number 40+ on this current tour, they gave their all. The joy was evident for all to see.
Thus Love are a band difficult to define, that is their gift. The main set finished and no one in the crowd moved. The hope was for an encore and Echo returned alone for a stunning rendition of ‘2am’ before the rest of the band joined them for ‘Family Man’. And then it was over.
Thus Love continue their current tour, which began in mid January in Philadelphia, with shows in Bristol, Cardiff and Brighton before finishing in Ramsgate on Thursday 3 April. They had already sold out their biggest headline show to date which took place at The Garage in London. All I can add is that I hope they have been inspired on the road to begin contemplating album number three. What a prospect that is.
For more information on Thus Love please check their facebook and instagram.
Credit: Julia Mason
