SharePrimal Scream performing their XTRMNTR Anniversary tour at Rock City Nottingham on Wednesday 9th September 2026.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Primal Scream were at Rock City on Wednesday night to celebrate the anniversary of the release of their 2020 album, XTRMNTR and it was a boisterous crowd that partied along with them.
Whilst the passing of time is cruelly highlighted by the fact that three members of the band who made Primal Scream’s most political album to date are no longer with us, hearing the album performed in full, with front man Bobby Gillespie commanding the stage, it was impossible not to consider that its themes are today more relevant than ever.
Kicking off with album opener Kill All Hippies, Gillespie immediately had the crowd in the palm of his hands. Accelerator arrived full of fizz and momentum before Exterminator allowed Andrew Innes to showcase his frenzied guitar skills.
For Swastika Eyes photographs flashed on the screen behind the band of harrowing images of genocide in Gaza, ICE on the streets of America and Elon Musk’s infamous fascist salute, all served as a painful reminder that those XTRMNTR days are still with us.
Absolutely taking centre stage, Gillespie for the most part was content to let the music do the talking, especially on the superb Blood Money before the album was brought to a close with the transcendent Shoot Speed/Kill Light that lost the crowd in a glorious moment of sentimentality.
After a short break they were back on stage for a six song encore. Kowalski began this eagerly awaited rock ‘n’ roll section whilst Jailbird was superb with its dirty riff and melodic chorus. Loaded with its iconic hook had the crowd stomping and shouting along providing a real high point of energy in the set before set closer the roof raising Rocks inspired sheer euphoria amongst them.
But it was the XTRMTR set which lingered longest after the lights went up, a powerful reminder that in a turbulent era, Primal Scream’s voice still matters.