Rachel
and I, happily, have many bands where our tastes overlap, and about whom we’re equally
keen to catch “live” whenever possible (Nada Surf, The Sheila Divine and The
New Pornographers leap to mind here). Similarly, there are also “David bands”
and “Rachel bands”, where we acknowledge one of us is just that bit more keen than
the other. Noted “Rachel bands” include the likes of Idlewild, Biffy Clyro,
James, Ash… and, oddly, this lot, Manchester Orchestra, Alabama’s finest
purveyors of riff-overloaded, alt-Americana tinged anthems for hairy
chainsaw-wielding Appalachian backwoodsmen. I get why I like them, less sure
about why my dear lady wife is such an avid fan. But hey, if it means that when
they announce a new tour cycle promoting a new album (as they did earlier this
year, including a Bristol date on their tour cycle in support of new album “A
Black Mile To The Surface”), Rach is all over it like a rash, booking tix for
us on the pre-sale, then hey, I’m game! It didn’t hurt either, that said new
album (widely lauded as their finest yet) is an eminently listenable affair, a
juxtaposition of the bleak and anthemic elements of their work, often recalling
equally hairy Scottish mob Frightened Rabbit in the process. A bit weird about
most tracks being titled “The [something or other]”, but there you go…
After
making robust plans for our departure, we found out at the last-minute that
this was an early one. However parental responsibility trumped rock’n’roll
tonight, so we left directly after watching Logan’s final race in his swim club
championships! Still, we parked up in the Rupert Street car park for 7.30, too
late to catch the curiously named support Slothrust, but in ample time to brave
the crowded bar for Rach’s vino collapso, and find a splendid viewing spot near
the front, on the (slightly) raised walkway stage right. Sure enough, the
lights dimmed and bearded behemoth vocalist Andy Hull led Manchester Orchestra
on prompt at 8, his unorthodox high choirboy/ operatic lilt embellishing the
elegiac opening to “The Maze”, before the song layered and built to a thudding,
ball-crushing denouement under an avalanche of riffery. “The Gold”, next up,
was a sinister lupine howl of a song with a pounding backbeat, and “The Moth”
was all juddering heavy riffery again, the aural equivalent to being pulverised
to a fine powder. Cripes!
Then,
oldie “Shake It Out” actually brought some tuneage amidst all the sonic
assault, and suddenly the scales fell from my eyes and I realised why Rach
likes this lot so much – “Shake It Out”, all seething power, screaming hookline
and undulating, tempo changing structure, could easily have walked off Biffy
Clyro’s “Puzzle” album. Colour me stupid, but hey, got it now! Similar oldie
“I’ve Got Friends” provided a respite from the sonic attack, almost pretty in
comparison, with a deft keyboard hook accompaniment, and “The Alien”, one of 3
mid-set numbers which segued into each other (the 70’s soft rock feel of “The Sunshine”
and the predictably heavier “The Grocery” being the other 2) was underpinned by
a creepy bassline.
“Simple
Math” thereafter returned to the usual Manchester Orchestra modus operandi – slow,
eerie intro into mid-paced number, big ball-crushing crescendo – and I confess
that by set closer “The River”, which felt like an ordeal in pounding
repetitive noise, I would have liked a lot more light and shade respite during the
set. I know that’s not normally like me to complain about the noise, but it all
seemed a little… incoherent at times,
just pounding riff after pounding riff for the sake of it. However, “Shake It
Out” notwithstanding, the 2 encores were probably my favourite numbers of the
night; “I Can Feel A Hot One” retaining its’ touching, tender mood throughout,
and closer “The Silence” (ironically named, given the set thus far!) was also
slow, quiet and almost 60’s film score-esque, at which point the taciturn Hull
(not a word to the audience throughout!) gave a wave and led the troops
offstage.
A
remarkably easy list later, we were then stuck in an utterly stupid semi-crush
to get out, as the crowd funnelled out to the single staircase exit at the
back, then onto the street – where the pre-gig barriers were still up, cutting
egress down to single file. Utterly stupid, and dangerously thoughtless, particularly
for such a new venue. Note to self – don’t be in a rush to leave next time! So
overall, a variable performance by Manchester Orchestra for me – splendid at
times, hard work at others. They’re a “Rachel band”, though, and she loved it,
so there!
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