Artist: Ist Ist

Venue: The 229

Town: London

Date: 5.12.25

Ist Ist

With a new album Dagger to be released in Feb 2026, Ist Ist are out on a headline Tour to test the new songs live and see if their hard core of fans accept them into their hearts as they have with all the previous releases. Light a Bigger Fire was another upward step for the band and saw their profile raised with consistently good songs on that album. Ist Ist were already mentioned in despatches for their polished live act and now can look forward to what will hopefully be another step up the ladder?

Ist Ist

Ist Ist

At The 229 in Great Portland Street, London the show started with a cracker of a new track in "I am the fear" from the upcoming Dagger LP. Immediately the sound that the band produce live gave every note and lyric clarity, I can only assume the sound checks for their shows must be meticulous. The two guitars of singer Adam Houghton and main guitarist Mat Peters combined so well, I am reminded of the output of Interpol and The Pixies in the way the guitars conjoin from two paths into one.

Ist Ist

Ist Ist

The Manchester band have a sound that works to house and transport Houghton's atmospheric vocals, there seems no reason to change that and after 10 years of existence why try? So the new tracks are from the same spring of imagination and inspiration with songs such as "warning signs" and "makes no difference" they are not breaking the mould though I didn't hear anyone complaining, this band are built on their live reputation and the word of their fans invites the new fans.

Ist Ist

Ist Ist

Finishing their set with the belter's "Hope to love again" and "You're mine" I can hear the depth of the band and witness the devotion in the eyes of the crowd. The encore produced the dark, menacing "Wolves" before the chunking bassline of "Stamp you out" shook the rafters and fittingly finished the show.

Ist Ist

Ist Ist

Ist Ist

Ist Ist website - IST IST

Review and Photographs by Dan Reddick for Return To Sound