There’s something about Think Tank? that feels like the heartbeat of Newcastle’s alternative scene. Tucked away just off Central Station, the venue hums with raw energy. Sticky floors, ceiling pipes, graffiti-tagged walls, the kind of place where you can feel the reverb of every bassline in your chest. Last Monday, it was The Molotovs’ turn to set the place alight, and they did just that with zero warning, no small talk, and absolutely no time to catch your breath.
Straight out of London, The Molotovs are a three-piece rock band with a punk pulse and an infectious, old-school attitude. Fronted by brother and sister duo Mathew and Issey Cartlidge (on vocals/guitar and bass respectively), and backed by drummer Henry Belgrove, they brought a set that felt like a Molotov cocktail in the best way, explosive, unpredictable, and full of fire.
The trio tore straight into the first track without so much as a hello, and honestly? It worked. The room, already packed wall to wall, snapped to attention. It was one of those rare openings where the energy in the crowd flipped instantly, like everyone realised, “oh, this is going to be special.”
From the start, Issey was a magnetic force on stage. With fierce presence and a don’t-look-away attitude, she didn’t just play the bass, she owned it. Swagger, charisma, attitude, every move was electric. And Mathew’s voice? Classic with a modern bite. His guitar work was razor sharp too, cutting through the chaos with solos that felt both precise and totally unhinged.
The band’s chemistry is undeniable. There’s an edge to siblings playing music together,a rawness that’s hard to fake and The Molotovs wield that connection like a weapon.
Standout tracks? Geraldine is super catchy, with a chorus built for beer-soaked singalongs and hands in the air. and More More More was pure chaos, they’ve released a recording of this on their Spotify, 100% recommend checking this one out!
And massive shout out to Henry on drums, relentless from the first beat to the last. His timing was spotless, no overplaying, just a consistent, driving force that let the siblings run wild without ever losing the plot.
It’s hard to describe the feeling in the room by the end of the set, everyone left buzzing. Not just from the volume, but from that kind of show. The kind that reminds you why small venues matter. Why loud guitars still matter. Why rock and roll, when it’s done right, still matters.
If The Molotovs are the future of punk-infused rock in the UK, we’re in very, very good hands. Catch them now while you can still see them this close. Because with shows like this? They won’t be playing rooms this size for long.