In the intimidating cavern of the OVO Hydro before IDLES take the stage there’s a moment of worry that perhaps the band known for leaping into crowds and connecting constantly with their audiences might somehow lose their power or charm in such a large venue. However, by the end of the opening song,  ‘IDEA 01’, where lead singer Joe Talbot, wild eyed and teeth gnashing, paces and sings facing away from the audience, mounting palpable tension and rendering the restless audience hanging on his every rasping, harshly spat word, those fears are obliterated. When Talbot speaks to the audience his startling and charming vulnerability find an instant connection with the Glaswegian audience. He tells them he was conceived in Glasgow which elicits cheers of “One of Us”, a refrain which the adoring crowd repeats several times.

The connection between the crowd and band is one of the reasons the performance is so captivating. As well as the chants, guitarist Lee Kiernan ventures over the barrier multiple times, wading deep into the audience to continue playing and dancing with the fans. There’s a sense of give and take, Talbot encourages and starts chants of the Scottish gig staple “here we, here we…” and splits the crowd, getting them to smash together during the climax of ‘Mr Motivator’. The steady stream of shared moments are galvanising and keep the energy in the room high. They don’t just fill the venue, they dominate it entirely. IDLES electrify the audience and energise the room in a way that never fades throughout the two hour set.

IDLES are outspoken in their political beliefs and it was reflected repeatedly and bluntly by Talbot. He led the crowd in a chant of “Fuck the King” and proclaimed “Fuck the fascist Tories” and “Long live the NHS”. These statements could be taken as reductive or trite but in the context of the high adrenaline and emotional outpouring they are fit perfectly. In a time of so much turmoil and so many complicated issues, these battle cries are both invigorating and cathartic.

The set list is excellently curated. New songs are mixed seamlessly with the old; favourites like ‘I’m Scum’ and ‘Danny Zedelko’ blending with new songs from this year’s TANGK, such as ‘Dancer’ and ‘Gift Horse’. The result is a smooth and satisfying blend of bouncy upbeat songs and more musically complex and contemplative tracks. All are given their time and space and fans of any of the band’s small discography are left sated.

The highlights of the set are hard to isolate as the songs run so seamlessly together and the frenzied, joyful mayhem never ceases, but ‘Car Crash’ is particularly emotional and powerful, while ‘Never Fight a Man with a Perm’ does not disappoint as the whole crowd becomes one screaming, roiling mass screaming the lyrics and dancing wildly.

The staging – a huge backdrop with IDLES written in puffy letters and a complex lighting rig – complements the band perfectly. From dazzling strobes to blood red washes the lighting doesn’t detract from the raw power of the band but adds a whole new layer of rave-like hysteria to the performance.

IDLE: are a band who excel live, they treat the audience as part of the band, vital to the experience, and it pays off. From the moment they step on stage they have a captive, rabidly excited audience and they feed and grow that rapture with entertaining stage presence, raw emotion and mind-blowing musical performances.