The sibling duo of The Molotovs, alongside drummer Noah Riley, have been difficult to miss recently, with their stylish promotional imagery and brilliantly loud energy on social media. They have just rounded off an extremely busy festival season and returned to perform once again in their hometown. They are in London for two consecutive nights due to the massive demand found in the city, and this is their second sold-out night. This trio seems to hardly ever tire, and their constant state of touring and performing has meant they perform with a confidence well beyond their years, building their reputation for consistently delivering electrifyingly good sets.
Their debut album ‘Wasted on Youth’ reached a whopping number three on the Official UK Album Charts, and number one on the Official Album Downloads Charts, a stellar showcase of the sheer number of listeners this group has won over these past years.
First on stage is The Cases from Preston, who bring a luminous youth and energy, starting the night off right. The crowd is already reaching capacity 2 hours ahead of the night’s headliners, and one can tell the band has many avid fans among them. The frontman Harry Hornsby is a natural at maintaining vigor through the 30-minute set. This group is one to keep an eye on, and the Molotovs have voiced their excitement for the band’s future and ability.
Leeds-based band Garageflower follow, after frontman Nathen Whitehead teases the crowd a few times before their set begins. Mentioning the group usually produces a reaction - Garageflower has been at the centre of much discourse, and the group has faced some controversy mainly online. Purely as a musical group, however, they are electric live, with plenty of shimmering youth-fuelled angst palpable through their light and unexpectedly groovy-sounding music. Especially notable is their bassist Joshua Ndombasi, who clearly showcases a certain level of brilliance, already a point of conversation both in the press pit and in the online music community. Midway through the set, the frontman encourages crowdsurfing, and a staggering number of young men find themselves carried off into the arms of the weary security.
When The Molotovs take to the large stage, they instantly own every inch of it - each member has an incredible presence that lasts all throughout their longer set of an hour and a half, though it feels far shorter. The crowd is treated to six pieces of new music from their upcoming album, such as 'Father Flag', 'Join Us', and 'Is There Any Hope?', and this release will clearly be a continuation of the band’s current dazzling strengths. Issey Cartlidge is a rare gem of this generation, exuding a direct confidence and character and making full use of the entire span of the O2 Forum’s stage. At any given moment she can be on the floor, in a staggering backbend, or strutting across the stage. One thing is for certain, however - she will never be still.
The crowd holds an exceptional mix of age groups, and this sea of staggeringly varied fans is united in moving to this mod-rock sound. It is a beautiful sight to see, and is something becoming increasingly familiar as the never-ending loop of music and fashion ties the past to the present. The fusion of generations in the music produced by these bands leads to the bringing together of a vibrantly spanning audience.
For the final song of their encore, Issey makes a heartfelt speech detailing how the O2 Forum is a special venue for the group, as in 2021 they opened for The Libertines here. She goes on to welcome to the stage “A man who needs no introduction,” Carl Barât, and the group (now four of them) perform a cover of the Libertines’ song 'What a Waster', bringing a spectacular end to the night.
Londoners who missed this show can catch The Molotovs on the 4th December at OVO Arena in Wembley, alongside The K’s and Razorlight. The Molotovs release their second album ‘Welcome to Urbia’ on the 9th April 2027, but until then, you can listen to the first single of the album ‘Urbia’ below and pre-save the album here.
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