BURSTIslington Assembly Hall, London
Their rhythms push and pull between destruction and creation, frontman Tunde Adebimpe is as magnetic as ever: this is no cynical anniversary cash-in
Every couple of years or so, a performance by NYC art-rockers TV on the Radio goes micro-viral again: Wolf Like Me on David Letterman’s chatshow in 2006. It’s one of the pinnacles of late-night TV, with lead singer Tunde Adebimpe, nerdish in glasses and plaid, seemingly in the grip of a werewolf transformation as he sings of the beast with two backs.
The band remain just as singular, energised and lupine as they return for their first gigs since 2018, marking 20 years since their debut album Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes. Original bassist Gerard Smith died in 2011 and guitarist-producer Dave Sitek isn’t part of this return, but a new rhythm section, augmented with a trombonist-keyboardist, are a generous and flexible base for the remaining trio.
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