Freeze, Scream, and Sing Along: The Struts’ Legendary Night at Rock City
Nottingham Rock City is a place that’s seen its fair share of legendary gigs, but when The Struts roll into town, you know you’re in for a wild one. This year’s homecoming performance was no different—full of swagger, sing-alongs, and a dash of rock ‘n’ roll chaos. Though The Struts spend most of their time dazzling audiences across the U.S. these days, it’s clear they’ve still got a soft spot for their old stomping ground. You could feel it in the air: tonight was special, and not just because they managed to fit in a new song and a birthday party.
As usual, Luke Spiller, the band’s glam-rock messiah, took to the stage with enough energy to power a small city. And before anyone could catch their breath, he made a bold prediction: “We’ve been here before, but I have a feeling tonight is going to be legendary.” A bold claim for sure, but when you’re the love child of Freddie Mercury and Mick Jagger (with a dash of Steven Tyler’s wardrobe), you can pretty much say whatever you like right.
They kicked off with “Primadonna,” and instantly, Rock City became a sea of hands, screaming faces, and fans who’ve followed them since the local pub days. “Fallin’ With Me” and “Body Talks” followed quickly, with Spiller strutting around like he owned the place (let’s be honest, he did). The energy was palpable, and the crowd? Well, the die-hards had camped out early to get the best spots on the rail, and it showed—they were practically glued to the barricade.
Then came a new track, “Can’t Stop Talking.” It’s fresh but somehow feels like a throwback to their early days. If this song were a person, it’d be that cool, retro uncle who still knows how to pull off a leather jacket. The crowd approved, and it fit right in with the setlist.
Halfway through the gig, in true rock star fashion, Spiller decided to take a little trip into the audience. Naturally, fans lost their minds. (As if they weren’t already!)
Things got even wilder when Spiller hit a snag with the setlist. They launched into “Put Your Money on Me,” and the crowd sang along as if they were auditioning for a rock choir. But Spiller soon realized, with a laugh, that they were supposed to be playing “In Love With a Camera.” It was one of those “Oops!” moments, but hey, if anyone can mess up and make it charming, it’s The Struts.
The unexpected highlight? A birthday celebration. No, not for any of the band members, but for their sound guy, J3. Cue Spiller leading the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” .
As the set hit its peak, Spiller turned the audience into his personal game show, pitting Adam Slack’s side of the crowd against Jed Elliott’s. The challenge? Who could scream louder. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, Spiller had the entire crowd freeze mid-rock-out, only to have them explode into chaos at his command. It was like playing musical statues with 2,000 people—if musical statues ended with everyone going absolutely mental.
They wrapped the set with “Put Your Money on Me,” and naturally, the crowd chanted for more, and they got it with the anthemic “Could Have Been Me.” By the end, everyone’s vocal cords were as shredded as Slack’s guitar solos, but it was all worth it.
The Struts’ return to Nottingham was a masterclass in showmanship, with a few surprises and a lot of laughs. If you haven’t seen them live yet, you’re seriously missing out. But hey, no worries—you can always catch them next year when they’re hopefully back to burn Rock City down again.
Freeze, Scream, and Sing Along: The Struts’ Legendary Night at Rock City @ Rocknews.co.uk
The Struts Band members
Luke Spiller – Lead vocals
Jed Elliot – Bass
Adam Slack – Guitar
Gethin Davis – Drums
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