Illuminatus
2 March 2011
The Bowery, London
Like buses you wait ages then two Illuminatus sets come along in one week.Tonight the band have a little more time to stretch out than at the Pure Rawk Awards, both in terms of time and stage space.The main set is bookended with tracks from the Nottingham band’s debut album, whilst the filling was choice cuts from the excellent new Glasnost album.
Whilst the sound out front was very good, on stage the band weren’t so lucky with Julio Taylor joking it was like “We’re in the yellow submarine without the drugs!” as Captive State opened the set.Murdocracy and Glasnost make for a muscular pairing with the musical energy matching the onstage movement.
  
This was our first review at The Bowery, which hasn’t been a haven for rock bands, but we’d certainly like to see some more events here.Fittingly, you’ll Never Know What This Means is dedicated to the people supporting independent venues and bands.
Whilst Anathema has been cited as a major influence of Illuminatus, the band has certainly developed their own sound across the latest album with less reliance on a quiet/loud/quiet/loud formula.Keep Calm & Carry On once again hits home hard whilst Red was uplifting.
Wargasm was dedicated to the band’s original bassist, Mark Freestone, who was in attendance tonight, but declined Leo Giovazzini’s offer to take his instrument for the song.The solo section morphed into Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb with some sublime guitar work from Jonathan Martin.
Tempted back by the crowd’s response, there was time for a song that the band usual saves for “When things go wrong”.A loyal; and impressive cover of Nirvana’s Breed wraps up another great evening in Illuminatus company.
Illuminatus setlist:
Captive State / Murdocracy / Glasnost / Reconnect / You’ll Never Know What This Means / Keep Clam & Carry On / Red / Wargasm / Breed
 
LINKS:
http://www.illuminatus.biz
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