Thus Love: The Attic, Leeds – Live Review

Thus Love | Ain’t | Cad
The Attic, Leeds
27th March 2025

Andy Brown heads to The Attic to catch a set from American post-punks, Thus Love. He shares his thoughts for Louder Than War.

Tonight, it seems, is all about firsts. It’s my first visit to The Attic – a small independent venue on the edge of the city centre in Leeds – and my first live encounter with Thus Love. Conceived in Brattleboro, Vermont, the band trade in a melodic kind of post-punk and released their second LP – All Pleasure – late last year. I’m not yet overly familiar with their recorded output but what better way to become aquatinted with a band than to go and see them live.

The night begins with a set from Cad. Yet another first for my eager ears, the band are a Leeds-based post-punk four piece. They kick us off with a song called Perfectly Still; a suitably invigorating mix of dreamy reverb and fuzz. Having had one coffee and a pint before their set, the song is the final jolt I need to wake up. “Stay on the floor/ Lay down” encourages the singer as he paces around in front of the stage, seemingly conducting the band by frantically waving the mic.

The band is fully locked-in from start to finish; their jittery post-punk energy gelling beautifully with hints of psych. At times they remind me of long-lost Leeds types, Eagulls (no, not the Hotel California fellas). The riff in Tony’s Carpet kicks ass while an anthemic and emotive number, tentatively titled Iridescent, hints at something rather special. Cad are the sort of band that makes you think about forming a band. Definitely one’s to watch.

Next up, I’m introduced to Ain’t. With a couple of seven inches under their belt, the London-based five-piece have been creating a bit of a buzz with their nineties-indebted indie-rock stylings. We’re mere seconds into their set and I’m already loving the wonky and distinctly Pavement-esque twin guitars. It may be a tad terrifying for some to consider but the 90s is currently getting the same kind of resurgence and reinterpretation that the sixties did during Britpop. Thankfully, Ain’t provide more than a trip down memory lane.

With a refreshing lack of rigidity in the songs; the band knows how to let things sprawl, slide and stretch. Sparse, desert-like ambience one minute and explosive indie-rock the next. Whispered vocals sit alongside semi-screamed and enthusiastically delivered harmonies. Slanted, enchanted and a whole lotta fun. The drummer explains how they recently played their biggest gig yet but neglected to tell the audience who they were. Oddly enough, I feel like that’s the kind of thing that would make Mr. Malkmus proud.

The lights go down and a revolving holographic image of the band’s name lets us know that it’s time for some Thus Love. They open with the tumbling riff and retro synth sounds of Repetitioner, a song so good that Mark Radcliffe once played it twice in a row on the radio. It sounds pretty great tonight too. While that song channels the neon-lit nostalgia of the eighties, On The Floor feels like a distinct nod to early Joy Division. Like Ain’t, it isn’t hard to spot the influences but when it’s done this well, it certainly scratches an itch.

Vocalist/ guitarist Echo Mars tells us that they aren’t a “party band”, yet it’s clear that Thus Love thrive on the stage. Mars and bassist Ally Juleen even break out some classic rock band back-to-back playing. Eat your heart out Slash! It’s a Thursday night and this is all the party vibes I need. “It’s a lot of fucking work” Mars tells us with a smile, “but you guys make it worth it.” Aw, shucks! The band has certainly built a devoted fanbase and there’s a guy in a Thus Love t-shirt to the side of the stage, clearly enamoured with every single second.

Now, I have to confess, I find myself coming in and out of the set a little. Get Stable rocks while the guitars on Put On Dog absolutely fly but overall, the set doesn’t quite grip me the way I’d hoped. There are times when the songs simply don’t rise above their – admittedly immaculate – influences. A closer relationship with the material would perhaps make all the difference but for me, tonight is all about first impressions. Yet, like a solid piece of rock ‘n’ roll theatre, their set has the classic three-act structure and manages to decisively pull me back in for the final stretch.

“I can see it perfectly” Mars swoons on the feisty Show Me Patience, “Even though I cannot read.” I’m a sucker for a great opening line and the gritted teeth – just bubbling under – tension of the song really hits the spot too. My highlight, however, has to be the evocative Lost In Translation. The guitars, the melody, the lyrics… I love everything about it. Like travelling through the city at night, the song has an undeniable sense of excitement and danger wrapped up in an utterly spellbinding tune.

A sparse solo rendition of 2AM provides a moment of vulnerability before the band see us out with an exhilarating Family Man. The latter treats us to a healthy portion of wailing guitar and one of Juleen’s irresistible post-punk bass lines. Nice! As introductions go, tonight has certainly made me want to dive deeper into the Thus Love discography. It’s not quite been love at first sight but I’m certainly open to a second date.

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Cad are on Instagram and Bandcamp | Ain’t are on Instagram and Bandcamp.

Find Thus Love are on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.

Photos by Neil Chapman (Unholy Racket). You can visit his author profile for Louder Than War and find him on Facebook and Instagram.

All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War HERE.