TEN YEARS OF ‘EVERYBODY WANTS’: THE STRUTS BRING THE PARTY TO NYC
Luke Spiller looked out into the roaring crowd and spotted a young child. “How old are you?” he asked with a curious smile. When the kid said he was 10 years old, the singer shared that it was at that same age he thought he wanted to be a ballet dancer, but (as we know) Spiller’s life took him in a different direction. Now, he gets to “shake his ass” onstage for all of us to watch.
In honor of the tenth anniversary of their debut album Everybody Wants, iconic rock band The Struts took off on an epic tour across North America, making a stop at the iconic Brooklyn Paramount in New York City Aug. 22, where they played the album front to back.
Formed in Derby, England in 2012, the British glam-rock group The Struts consists of lead singer Luke Spiller, guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliot and drummer Gethin Davies. Throughout their years together The Struts have played alongside legendary names in rock music including The Rolling Stones, Guns ‘N’ Roses, The Who and Foo Fighters.
Fans of the band had traveled from all around to spend a night with The Struts in New York City, some parents even bringing their kids for what might be their first concert ever. The crowd buzzed with anticipation as they waited for the show to begin, drinks in hand. The newly-restored venue with a slanted floor gave fans a phenomenal view from any spot in the crowd. A shrill of cheers flowed through the crowd as the stage lights dim for just a moment, and in the blink of an eye the show begins.
Photographed by Haley Petrone / @haleypetronephoto
The band began their set with “Primadonna Like Me” and “Body Talks,” two tracks off their second album, before beginning their playthrough of Everybody Wants (2015). The band oozed pizzazz the entire night, energy flowing through every song. Spiller dominated the stage with passionate vocals and a demanding stage presence. The entire band moved together with mesmerizing semblance; it’s like they all knew each other's next move. It was obvious the band had been performing together for quite some time.
Throughout the night, Spiller was often accompanied by a string instrument during the show; An acoustic guitar made an appearance during just one song, “Mary Go Round,” as well as a piano where he took a seat for four songs: “Young Stars,” “Black Swan,” “Only Just A Call Away” and “One Night Only.”
The band spent multiple moments interacting with fans, showing them how much they appreciate them and acknowledging that without them they would not be here. Before the start of the song “These Times Are Changing,” a song the band wrote before signing to Interscope Records and touring with The Rolling Stones, Spiller asked who in the crowd had seen them back in 2015. Receiving a roaring response, Spiller addressed them once more before starting the track, letting them know that song was for them.
Everyone was really feeling the music, with one person on the right side hoisting themselves onto someone's shoulders, rising above the crowd and catching the attention of the band, who then spent a moment singing to them before returning to center stage. A core memory for all.
The crowd kept up with and matched the energy of The Struts throughout the entire show, dancing with hands in the air and responding enthusiastically to chants and crowd participation. The band had the crowd wave their hands back and forth in the air to their final song “Where Did She Go” before the encore. After they finished the track, the lights dimmed again for a second as the band walked off stage, but in a flash they were back to play a few more songs.
Returning to an eager audience, Spiller walked on to the stage and raised one finger in the air, as if to ask, “One more song?” The singer counted up to five on his hand as the crowd cheering increased more and more with each finger raised before giving everyone the middle finger and beginning their encore — just in The Struts’ style.
Seeing The Struts in concert will transport you back in time with their glam-rock inspired aesthetic. The band truly embodies the textbook definition of a rockstar in their performances with a twist, something that makes them so appealing to such a wide audience: Their authenticity and genuine love of the game.
Get tickets to the tour: here.
Keep up with The Struts:
Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / X
