And so they come to worship the gods of rock in the church where it all began. Nine years ago three noiseniks from Northern Ireland made their debut London appearance at the Underworld. The intervening years have been something of a rollercoaster ride but they're still here making an unholy racket.
Tonight is a celebration, the fans' office party if you like. Frontman Andy Cairns frequently spins his microphone around to let various audience members take a turn at bellowing the choruses. With his Elvis shirt and demonic eyes, Cairns' stage performance, as ever, veers between rock showmanship and a genuine thrill that people are still letting him do this job while fellow stalwart Michael McKeegan pogos for all he's worth.
The set leans heavily on the current 'So Much For The Ten Year Plan' retrospective which is fine as we get to hear classics such as 'Screamager', 'Die Laughing' and 'Nowhere' at maximum volume while the bodies fly onto the stage and the crew desperately try to protect their equipment.
And, although there's no 'Meat Abstract' and 'Teethgrinder', their absence is more than more up for by the band rolling out older tunes like 'Turn' and 'Skyward'. One fan gets up to bellow 'Knives' while the band leap about around him. They even rifle through a verse and chorus of Judas Priest's 'Breaking The Law' as a punter on the balcony proudly shows off his beer gut complete with obscene tattoo.
While the cutting edge deserted them years ago, Therapy? are masters of giving good gig. This is Spinal Tap, replete with feet on monitors, studded wristbands and even a 'Jazz Odyssey' interlude when Andy's guitar goes belly-up. But it's also fantastic, sweaty, beer-soaked fun.
