This was the one we were most looking forward to before the day and the Middlesborough based duo did not disappoint.
Watching Robbie and Kingsley set up for this show feels a bit like pulling back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz. The outcome we will soon experience is powerful theatre but right now there are wires, effects pedals, boxes and… things… everywhere. Robbie tests out an object that can only be described as looking like a breathalyser. He blows into it producing a deep bass sound that reminds us of the noise in Inception that was created by slowing down ‘Non, je ne regrette rien’ to the point that it was moving as slow as a glacier. The handwritten set list has crossings out all over it. Either this is recycled from an earlier gig and cut down, or there was real back and forth on what would work best in the 45-minute slot.
For the uninitiated Benefits put out a gloriously angry and political punk-noise debut album, only to lose half the band and reinvent themselves as gloriously angry and political punk-noise masters that you can dance to. There really isn’t anything else quite the same out there and recent second album ‘Constant Noise’ is one of THE albums of 2025.
We are off, Kingsley reading the poetry of opener ‘Constant Noise’ over a range of low drones Robbie is producing from his box of tricks. Much like listening to the album it transports you to another place, a place of truth and insight. This merges straight into ‘Land of the Tyrants’ that really gets things going. On one level we find ourselves wishing this was a proper Benefits gig rather than a festival show, you know people would be dancing away to this one on their own turf. The Facebar Reading crowd are appreciative and respectful, but not quite swept away in it to the level it deserves. If it had been their own gig they also would have bought their own lighting rig which would have been appreciated today. Whilst we love The Facebar for all the crazy madness and rising genius it has put on over the years the lighting is the worst of any venue at AYL? and the stage area could desperately use a refit. ‘Victory Lap’ keeps the beats going. It is on tracks like this that they most align with acts like Underworld.
Finally, pure rage Kingsley surfaces as he screams his way into ‘Lies.’ There is nothing like watching an artist completely lost in their work, living every moment of it. Watching Elbow on their ‘Asleep in the Back’ tour Guy Garvey had his eyes closed for most of the songs, completely lost in the emotion that he was conjuring. It is a similar thing with Kingsley, he is the song, here he is rage personified.
‘Missiles’ makes it 5 for 5 from the Opening order of Constant Noise, but when you have something this brilliant and powerful why would you mess with it? Robbie is doing things to a violin now, a real instrument seems somehow against the rules of everything else going on here. The energy is quickly raised with the pounding trio of ‘Blame,’ ‘Divide’ and ‘Dancing on the Tables.’ It is of course too much to hope that they managed to smuggle Shakk down in the boot of their car alongside all the kit, but he is present via a recording.
After 9 tracks we finally get a taste of debut album Nails. First ‘Flag’ and then ‘Warhorse.’ Kingsley is transformed into a rabid dog, just short of foaming at the mouth. Sections of the crowd noticeably perk up here suggesting many had a better familiarity of the first album. ‘Warhorse’ is the perfect epitome of the spirit of punk.
There is just room for one more. In an absolutely making sense choice they do a cover of Suicide’s ‘Dream Baby Dream.’ I had never really considered the influence they might have had on the Benefits project but as the original angry electronic duo it is a nice nod. Here the backing is reinterpreted by Robbie by mixing it into a flavour of Underworld’s classic ‘Born Slippy.’ Then it is over, Kingsley dripping with sweat from the energy he has thrown into the performance. The crowd have loved it. A lot of acts on today’s bills have snuck in to catch this one and you can’t blame them for doing so, it was an electric performance. Powerful, profound and as promised, more fun than you would expect.
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