For an alternative music enthusiast like me, the Islington Assembly Hall was an exciting new addition to the list of London’s most intriguing venues. Movements played a warm-up show in London on Sunday, July 7th, just a week before the much-anticipated Cheltenham 2000 Trees Festival. Don’t worry — we’ll be there too, counting trees and vibing to Movements and their fantastic set.
The Sunday night kicked off with a bang, starting with “Afraid To Die” from their latest album “Ruckus!”. This was followed by “Third Degree,” an all-time banger in my opinion. Movements’ fans are known to be composed of 80% nostalgia and 20% water (at least, that’s what I’ve heard). While their older music brings tears to many eyes, “Ruckus!” has quickly won over hearts, as evidenced by the crowd’s reaction to “Killing Time” and “You’re One Of Us Now.”
“You’re One Of Us Now” is a soul-stirring, ardent, and moving song, and my personal favorite from “Ruckus!”. You could see these emotions reflected on people’s faces as they listened to the following lyrics, “Stay in line, watch your mouth, prove your faith and prove it now Can’t be human, can’t be proud, it’s only love if it’s allowed I don’t need faith, I need out.”
It was a trip down memory lane and a look at the present and future world. The set continued with an even mix of old and new hits, closing with “Daylily.” Hands were up in the air, and people around me seemed light-hearted after the emotional rollercoaster of Movements’ setlist, which seemed designed to make us aware of the world around us and feel each word deeply.
Words + photography by Martina Antonia Liberini
