The Struts in Concert: The Unmatched Power of a Live Performance
The UK band The Struts are on their Pretty Vicious Tour with support from Barns Courtney, and they made a stop in New Haven, CT, at College Street Music Hall this past Thursday, August 9th. Of course, we had to be there.
Typically, we attend concerts to enjoy being part of the crowd, but this time was different. We were given the opportunity to take photos, marking our first "pinch me" moment where we truly saw the potential of this blog. It was even more surreal that it was The Struts. This experience took me back to 2019 when we first saw them on their Young and Dangerous Tour. We waited three hours in line at Pier 17 to get a good view because we had been eager to see them live since 2018. There was some doubt about whether their live performance would match the polished sound of their records, but those concerns vanished the moment Luke Spiller rode up on a Harley Davidson motorcycle and launched into "Primadonna Like Me." The Struts bring their music to life on stage in a way that's hard to replicate. I wish there were a way to capture that rush their songs give when heard live. Heading into Thursday's show, our main question was whether they still exuded that same energy we experienced in 2019. And groupies, they still got it.
The night kicked off with Barns Courtney as the opening act, and we couldn't have been more thrilled. We've been fans of his music since the release of The Attractions Of Youth album. His performance perfectly set the stage for The Struts, as his incredible voice, great fashion sense, and amazing stage presence captivated the audience right from the start.
Barns Courtney's music is punchy and rugged, which was reflected in his energetic performance. He violently jerked around the stage, doing tricks with the microphone stand and chord, climbing up on the drums and playing the crash cymbal one-handedly. At one point, he climbed the monitors, going absolutely wild, much to the delight of the crowd. One particularly memorable moment was when he reached out and grabbed someone's phone, recording a video of himself and the audience while getting up-close shots of his bandmates before handing the phone back. Barns Courtney truly knows how to work a crowd, and his set was a memorable start to an unforgettable night of music.
Barns Courtney's connection with his fans was undeniable and on full display during the concert. At one point, a fan in the front row held up a poster declaring, "Hands is the best Barns Courtney song!" Barns spotted it, grabbed it, and held it up to show everyone else. Throughout the night, he made his way to the railing to get closer to the audience, sending the crowd into a frenzy each time. We also can't overlook his guitarist, Andrew Martin, who looked like he stepped straight out of the 70s and played with incredible talent and flair.
One thing is for certain. Barns Courtney delivered and was the perfect choice to get the crowd ready for The Struts.
Did we mention we were taking pictures for The Struts? Well, we didn’t quite think through what the opening song would be, so when "Primadonna Like Me" started playing, we had to physically stop ourselves from moving to the beat. As guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliott, and drummer Gethin Davies took their places on stage, a bouncing Luke Spiller made his entrance. Let’s just say Luke knows how to command attention like no other artist we’ve seen.
Spiller expertly uses the space in each song to catch his breath and connect with everyone in the venue. His charisma and charm as a frontman are impossible to ignore. It’s a well-known rule at most shows that concert photographers only get to shoot during the first three songs, so we figured we’d hear "Body Talks" later in the set. To our surprise, it was the third song, and I don’t think people understand how hard it was for us not to drop our cameras and join the other fans in the pit to sing our hearts out.
One thing you should know about us groupies: we love our job creating content like photos, videos, and this blog, but before all of this, we’re fangirls at heart. Being huge fans of The Struts and not dancing like crazy to "Body Talks" should’ve been illegal. But in the end, we took our photos and sang in our heads while the crowd went absolutely insane for them—and you can’t blame them for it.
Their music is so transcendent that it’s reflected in their audience. Fans of all ages and backgrounds came together to sing classics like "Kiss This," "Empty Streets," and "Body Talks." The band also treated us to their latest single, "Heaven’s Got Nothing On You," and let us tell you—they still got it. If we don’t get a music video with the same vibe as “Could’ve Been Me” for this track, it would be a missed opportunity. We’re so obsessed with this song that we can’t stop singing the chorus. Our Airbuds app has been tracking our listens, and let’s just say, hitting triple digits in a week is insane. But if there’s one thing you take away from this, groupies, it’s that you need to add this song to your playlist immediately—it’s too good to keep to ourselves.
Then you say, "Daddy, I'm your dancer, put me on a pole
Cover me in flowers and rock 'n' roll"
After the show, we caught up with Spiller and asked him what his favorite part of the night was. He told us it was the sing-along with the fans during "I Won't Run." We couldn’t agree more—it was the most moving part of the concert. The song felt like Luke wasn’t just singing to the crowd but encouraging them to stand strong and not give up on what matters. It was beautiful to witness the crowd singing back, almost as if they were reassuring the band with the same message. Moments like these truly highlight not just their talent as performers, but also their deep connection with the fans, showing how much they value their support.
By the time The Struts hit the last three songs, Spiller was drenched in sweat, and it seemed like the entire crowd was right there with him. They closed with "Could’ve Been Me," and, groupies, this is the song that made us fall in love with the band. We first heard it live back in 2019, and there’s nothing like experiencing that vibration in person when everyone is singing along. Hearing it again brought out some emotions for us because this song is the reason we want to be the best in this industry. We never want to look back and say It could’ve been us. Our love for music drives us to be a part of it in any way we can, and this song fuels that passion. The crowd couldn’t help but scream the lyrics at the top of their lungs, and you can’t blame them—this song is electric and powerful. It didn’t hurt that Spiller encouraged us to sing it back to him with the same passion he poured into the performance.
There's really nothing to criticize about this concert. The Struts gave it their all. Slack and Davies delivered impressive solos, Elliott was as effortlessly cool as ever, and Spiller's pitch-perfect vocals and dynamic performance showcased the incredible power of this foursome when they come together. Not a single song felt like filler—each one had the intent to keep you hooked. If there's one thing we can confirm, it's that The Struts are a band that must be seen live. Listening to them through your headphones just doesn't do them justice. We wish we were exaggerating, but this band is truly meant to be experienced in person. We can't wait to see what they have in store for the future, but one thing is certain: if they're playing a show in CT or NY, we'll be there.
All our love,
Your Favorite Groupies
