Dry The River @ Manchester Academy

“I think people are surprised when they come to see us live.  They expect us to be really calm and quiet but in some ways we’re the opposite”.  These are the scarily accurate words of Dry The River’s heavily tattooed front man, Peter Liddle.  If you stumbled drunkenly upon this band in a night club – with long locks and their bodies ladened with tattoos your instinct would tell you, protect your ears and go elsewhere as this is going to be deafening.  Even so, the previous comment would only apply to those who have been hiding under a rock for the past seven months and are vastly unaware of the headway this band have achieved, i.e – selling out Camden Electric Ballroom 3 months in advance and the same is said for London Scala…so no biggie then?  Tonight sees Dry The River bring their falsetto inspired folklore to a sold out Manchester Academy brimming with anticipation. 

           

With a modest entrance that subjected the crowd to an entire three minutes of Michel Jackson’s Will You Be There (which, surprisingly, was quite enjoyable), Dry The River finally bounced onstage with the up-most vigour and enthusiasm – and received a raucous reception from a pumped up crowd.  Commencing with the ever popular No Rest, the nerves seemed to be kept at bay, at least for now, enabling the impressive falsetto they have become branded with to work its magic on the crowd.   An audience thoroughly satisfied with a note perfect performance to start the evening, Peter began to tease and probe for a better reaction “We’re called Dry The River, it’s good to be back in Manchester. This is one of our favourite places to play”. To which countless men and women exclaimed their love for the folky five piece. 

          

Shield Your Eyes takes the show to another dimension aided by intense lighting creating silhouette-like figures, whilst your ears are being treated to breathtaking harmonies coupled with bizarre lyrical content ‘Frigione line with excellent eye sight’ – peter later jokes that even he doesn’t know what the lyrics mean, but it’s nice that people are taking an interest!  The mention of Rio Ferdinand being here tonight in one of Peters interjections obviously throws the crowd into complete turmoil and ‘Rio, Rio’ can be heard reverberating around the walls – enough to make anyone leave I would think. 

          

  What impressed me most about Dry The river was not the impeccable falsetto, harmonies or the breathtakingly talented but underrated violinist in the background – nope, none of those. It was the fact the whole performance was seamless and the band were able to relax with each other and the crowd, this allowed all of the above to flow so effortlessly and none other than in Weights and Measures.

           

This song was like no other song I have heard live in my life.  Spine tingling, emotive, earth shattering. I could go on but none of those words would capture the moment that eerie and echoing falsetto vocal filled the room as the band took a stand away from their mic’s and a pin drop could be heard as the crowd fell deafly silent.  A simply stunning piece of lyrical work and one that will stay with me for a very long time.  If you have the opportunity to experience this bands exceptional talents live grab it with both hands, you will not be disappointed.  An accomplished and professional performance from a band who I’m sure have a lot more talent to share.

            

Reverend and The Makers @ Manchester Academy

As it neared the hour of 9.00pm the venue has already played host to two very average sounding support acts, which the heavily intoxicated crowd gave a surprisingly warm reception to.  Although, I’m not entirely sure if this was anticipation for the appearance of The Reverend and his band rather then gratitude for two average bands.

Anticipation grows as the lights dim and plunge the crowd into darkness.  An ear piercing reception reverberates around the venue, which almost certainly signals the entrance of Reverend and The Makers. 

The first glimpse we manage to get is Jon ‘The Reverend’ McClure standing with some arrogance, soaking up the ecstatic crowd atmosphere.  Chants of ‘Reverend, Reverend, Reverend', can be heard working there way around the entire venue.  McClure doesn’t flinch at the reaction of his entrance, despite it being so loud it sends chills down your back.  After a good 10 minutes, the band finally launch into their first number ‘Silence is Talking’.  This, of course, creates a mass of chanting from the very first word.  It has been a very long time since I have experienced such an overwhelming atmosphere at a gig.  You would feel out of place if you didn’t dance or sing along, a bit like that fat kid who used to bully everyone at school! 

They then launch (with some gusto), into the classic ‘Heavyweight Champion of The World’ with that trademark bass line that sets off proceedings.  The heat and humidity only three songs in is beginning to get seriously uncomfortable.  A kick drum, some out of time clapping and the words “Manchester, are you with me?” are recited, before the middle 8 ‘To be like everybody else’ is sang, or rather shouted, in unison by a hot a sweat ridden crowd. Jon, finally, (after a good 10 minutes of out of tune chanting by the crowd), begins to wind things up singing the final chorus of ‘Heavyweight Champion of The World’.  With the song complete it merits the best reaction of the night so far, from everyone, including myself.  

Current single ‘No Soap’ is introduced with the words “Join me, lets do this together, F**k the BNP, peace, love and F**cking unity”.  A thumping bass drum and almost tortured vocals grace the ears, before a less catchy chorus, this shown by a toned down crowd reaction, begins.  Although the song still receives a good response.  A slower number then emerges, by the name ‘Manifesto’.  With raspy vocals, strumming an acoustic guitar and looking very calm, this is the side of him I saw earlier on in the day, the one which most rock stars hate to show.  Although I was stuck on a balcony, high above the packed out venue with the rest of the press, I still felt a major part of this gig, the sense of unity that everyone was in this together was amazing.  

Half way into this beautiful sweat infested assembly, which other people refer to as a gig, it was taking its toll on me.  Now, sticky with sweat from the sheer humidity of the venue, I felt the bar had to become a feature of my night as I quite possibly wouldn’t be standing at the end of it.  By the time ‘Open Your Window’ is belted out the roar that fills the venue is incredible, it is by far the best reaction of the night.  The drunken howling and out of time clapping resumes once more and it seems everyone is embracing this band like there is no tomorrow.  

As the show draws to an end Jon says “Are you enjoying yourselves?”which, of course, receives a rapturous applause from the crowd, he then says “Good, ‘cuz I’m having a f**king right time up ‘ere! This one’s for my good friend Tim Hampton, f**king respect mate, This one’s ‘He Said He Loved Me’. Seya!” His wife begins proceedings with vocals not to dissimilar to that of Lily Allen, however, slotted rather tastefully over an electro dance beat – which pulsates though your body.  The encore then follows, their appearance is again, subject to a huge applause from the crowd.  They finish with the track ‘Armchair Detective’.  The crowd looking somewhat fatigued by this time, manage to muster up the energy to dance to one last number.  

As people begin to trundle out, through the mass of beer cans and plastic bottles, taking at least 10 minutes to get to the venue entrance, they spot McClure outside.  He is surrounded by a mob of people singing horrifically and has an acoustic guitar slung around his neck.  He plays three numbers, appearing relaxed and at ease, despite the mass of people around him.  After his three numbers he darts across the road towards the entrance of the venue, followed by a handful of crazed fans.  For the less crazed fans among us, well, they desponded into to the night and events drew to a close.  

One of the best atmospheres, crowds and bands that I have seen.  A sublime night, which everyone should experience at least once in their life.           

Emilliana Torrini @ Manchester Academy

For the majority of you who are unfamiliar with Emilliana Torrini she is an Icelandic alternative folk singer originating from Kopavoger. Many of you will be blissfully unaware that Emilliana in fact, co–wrote Kyle Minogue songs ‘Slow’ and ‘Someday’, and as well as this she has toured with major artists’ including Sting, Dido, and Travis.  However, she is best known for her 1999 album ‘Love In The Time’ and her performance of ‘Gollem’s Song’ during the end credits of ‘Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers’.  Tonight she brings her talents to the streets of Manchester.  

An hour after the doors had opened (by this time it had given the students plenty of time to consume at least 4 of the overly priced beers that the bar were selling) a timid and lonesome figure walks onto the stage accompanied by just an acoustic guitar.  The female solo act going by the name of Alessi’s Ark received a very warm welcome from the surprisingly heavily populated venue early on. Sporting a very dainty floral printed dress and long wavy hair she introduces herself speaking with a soft and angelic voice.  “I’ve played here in Manchester before at the Night and Day, erm, and the first time I ever played ever was at the Night and Day when I was 14. But this is somewhere new tonight”.  This caused some laughter and applause from the warm hearted audience.  

Opening with “The Bird Song” Alessi’s Ark appears nervous with an unconvincing start, which worsens when she pauses half way though the song having played the wrong chord.  However, the nerves begin to fade somewhat by second song ‘The Dog’, her vocals are not to dissimilar to that of the main act Emilliana Torrini although much softer and more soothing.  Her vocals tend to conjure up the image of a romantic candle lit dinner or a relaxing bubble bath.  As the set progresses, her self confidence begins to grow considerably and she begins reciting the previous days outings to Lake Windermere and how nice it was that she bought an ice cream.  By this time people were pouring in for the headline act, and the reaction to her ‘storys and jokes’ was more prominent.  Alessi’s Ark completed the set with the beautiful song‘Hummigbird’.  "You are set free, flex your wings and steal me away"just displays some of the beauty conveyed in the lyrics and accompanied with an acoustic guitar completes the mesmerising feel that is on so many of the crowds faces.  

What endeared me most about Alessi’s Ark is the vulnerability and genuine gratitude she had towards the audience, because this is very hard to come by with many acts.

Emilliana Torrini finally emerges to be greeted by an eruption of cheers and whistles among the crowd.  She begins with the song ‘Hold Heart’ which consisted of a plucked acoustic guitar and maracas, the minimalist effects working perfectly with almost tortured sounding vocals.  This song merits a great reaction of cheering and applause from the crowd.  ‘Nothing Brings Me Down’ is Bjork–esque, beginning with a walking bass line and her trademark vocals creeping in over the light strumming of an acoustic guitar.  It progresses into a stronger, more assured song, with a simple yet effective drumbeat that glues the song together, yet you can hear a simple chord progression played by keys that keeps the folk element of the song but makes it ever stronger until the climax.  

Emilliana, like the support act also is a fan of telling recent experiences within her life to fans.  Simply for the reason that the majority of her songs are in a different key to one another, much to the annoyance of the band that’s playing with her.  “Once I was going to the toilet before a concert one time, and I took a picture of a piece of art on the toilet door , and the woman next to me ran out of the toilet and started screaming at me, saying ‘why were you taking a picture of me?’. I had to ring my manager to get me out! So I’m now known as a toilet pervert!”.  One story she relates to Manchester saying “I came out of my hotel and saw these two girls trying to pick a fight with a cab driver, I knew I was in Manchester!”.  

Some crowd favourites played during the set were; ‘Big jumps’, ‘Gun’, and the current single ‘Jungle Drum’, which along with 'Gun' is a personal favourite of mine.  'Jungle Drum' was written about Emilliana’s current boyfriend and how she fell madly in love with him, the lyrics ‘My heart is beating like a Jungle Drum’ conveying this perfectly.  

The eagerly awaited album ‘Me and Amani’ including all of the above tracks is now available for purchase or digital download from itunes.