The Struts
Article by Brittany Ormiston
Audience members were shifting back and forth in anticipation. Smoke was billowing across the stage, and throughout the room. A siren was heard at full volume grabbing everyone’s attention, as the room went dark. Orange lighting illuminated the drum set as Gethin Davies [drummer] appeared on the elevated platform. He displayed a rock-on sign as the rest of the band entered the crowd’s view. It was time to strike a pose with The Struts.
The first noticeable and note-worthy quality about this British rock band was their style and color coordination. Each member exhibited a sophisticated look with a dark purple color scheme. Lead vocalist and frontman Luke Spiller’s embroidered cape-like garment was accented by the sparkles outlining bassist Jed Elliott’s suit jacket, shirt, and pant pockets. The elegance and detailing of their clothing set the stage for a very cohesive performance. Throughout the 10 years of being a band, each member has learned how to be in tune with one another. The chemistry shown between all four of them was off the charts, and it spilled over into their engagement with the crowd as well. They constantly harnessed the crowd’s energy, and sent it back again two-fold. “Then scream like you f— mean it!” shouted Luke during ‘Body Talks.’ The concert goers were all riled up now, and in for a hell of a ride.
Luke was very poised, theatrical, and extravagant as he sang ‘Fallin’ With Me.’ All instrumentals cut out as the crowd sang “oh-oh, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh” during the outro, and a rush of adrenaline ensued. The Struts were just getting started. They gave the crowd a taste of their new album coming out this fall, including their next single ‘Too Good At Raising Hell.’ Adam Slack [guitarist] and Jed laughed as they shared the microphone while doing backup vocals throughout the chorus. Attendees could already picture themselves screaming the lyrics to this track while in the car without a doubt. With a fiery bass line in tow, the title track ‘Pretty Vicious’ definitely stirred up the bad b— energy from within. The crowd felt like the main characters. Gethin stood up to “conduct the orchestra” with his drumsticks as fast-paced piano riffs accompanied Luke’s vocals at the beginning of ‘One Night Only.’ Luke’s tongue trill during the second verse followed by Adam’s guitar solo were astounding, mesmerizing even. To add to the already thrilling performance, all members struck a pose and stayed frozen in time for a few seconds during ‘I Do It So Well.’ The crowd roared with such avidity that the band had difficulty staying in character before jumping into the chorus.
Aside from their energetic performance and flamboyant style, The Struts took it down a notch and completed formal introductions of each band member that included fun rhymes Luke created. The crowd played a part as they participated in singing battles to see which side was the loudest. “For those of you who are new, welcome to The Struts family,” Luke said softly. As Luke sat down at the piano, he was eager to share that the Indianapolis show was a highlight of this tour so far. The acoustic version of ‘Fire - Part 1’ was simplistic yet enriched in passion with the crowd swaying back and forth in unison. The night concluded with the band’s most popular song ‘Could Have Been Me’ from their debut studio album. The instrumentals combined with the crowd singing every single word made you feel on top of the world. The Struts sign in gold metallic lettering hovered over all four members as they took a final bow. The Struts are a must-see live act with a sound that is both familiar and fresh. They will have you walking out those doors feeling young & dangerous for the foreseeable future.
Egyptian Room of Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN on June 20, 2023
Photos by Everly Ormiston
