THE MOLOTOVS

After a busy year that saw them release their debut album, support Yungblud on an arena tour, and take to massive stages across a packed festival season, The Molotovs headed down to Brighton for the third show of their 14-date UK and ROI tour. This run comes ahead of the release of siblings Matt (18) and Issey (20) Cartlidge’s second studio album, Welcome To Urbia, with ticket sales reflecting just how quickly the young band have established themselves within the scene. Walking out to an 825-capacity, sold-out Chalk, the duo wasted no time in proving that the recent hype surrounding them was more than justified; from the start, their performance was driven by a level of energy and confidence to rival far more experienced and established acts.

The night was opened by Jeanie and The White Boys, a London-based four-piece who brought a dose of attitude and energy to the stage. Thanking The Molotovs for having them along for several dates of the tour, frontwoman Jeanie Crystal introduced the band with a simple declaration: “hatred equals great art, and most of my songs are full of hate”. She then launched into a high-energy, scream-laden set centred around the messy realities of relationships, with songs about exes, exes’ new partners and even the partner of another band member. Tracks including ‘Boy, I’m A Man’ and ‘Boohoo Girls’, the latter dedicated to the late Dolly Parton, showcased the band’s ability to balance lighthearted humour with a raw, punk-leaning intensity.

By the time The Molotovs came onto stage, the venue was so packed that moving through the crowd was almost impossible. With their carefully curated image and undeniable stage presence, the pair threw themselves into each song and fed off the energy of a crowd who had clearly been looking forward to seeing them live. From the first note of ‘Johnny Don’t Be Scared’, there was no hesitation; every chorus met with a wall of voices, and the intensity of the room seemed to push the duo further. They carried themselves with the confidence of a band well beyond their years, commanding the stage and leaving little doubt as to why anticipation surrounding their next chapter is building so quickly. 

Five songs in, Matt disclosed that both he and Issey were coming down with throat infections, saying “I don’t know how many songs we’ve got left in us - it depends how well you can sing”. This didn’t slow them down, and if anything, the energy increased - as “Join Us” kicked in, it was clear that the band were putting their all into the performance, giving everything they had to the crowd who were more than willing to return the favour. The energy from the stage remained relentless, with the audience’s voices taking over when Matt’s began to falter.

After ‘More More More’, Matt asked the crowd to “give us a couple of minutes, yeah?” as the band left the stage, leaving the crowd in anxious anticipation as they waited to see if they would reappear. When they eventually returned, it was clear that the decision had not been an easy one. Despite being visibly disappointed to have to cut their set down to 14 songs and finish half an hour earlier than planned, the duo remained determined to make the most of the voices they had left. They decided to rework the setlist, closing with some of their biggest hits - “Father Flag”, “Newsflash” and “Come On Now” - and leaving the stage having given everything they could despite the circumstances.

Leaving the stage with promises to return to Brighton once they’re back to full health, The Molotovs were met with enthusiastic support from the crowd. Rather than rushing away, the duo took the time to thank those who had stuck with them, passing drumsticks, picks and setlists into the audience as fans eagerly reached for a final souvenir. Despite the disappointment of an abruptly shortened set, there was a sense of mutual appreciation between the band and the crowd - a fitting end to a night which demonstrated both the duo’s appeal and their determination to give everything they could.