Live Review : Alexisonfire + Boston Manor + Higher Power @ Academy, Manchester on October 16th 2022

We have the surprise addition of Higher Power as an opening support band tonight, which is great news as I’m a big fan. The lads from Leeds are a hardcore/post-hardcore band with that little extra bit of something. Their delightful signature mix of alt rock and hardcore also delivers luscious nu-grunge chorus guitars and in Jimmy "J-Town" Wizard’s vocals. Llike listening to Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction, there is that unique marmite element. His vocals aren’t to everyone’s tastes, but I love his delivery and attitude, not to mention the lyrical content and enthusiasm. In fact, the whole band are a bundle of bouncing enthusiasm, and once the guitar levels come up to match the vocals, bass and drums then the sound mix is spot-on with the lead guitar cutting through just right. It means some of those unique nuanced grunge-chorus effects, stabbing guitars and swaggering riffs eventually become apparent, and help build to the excellent swelling and soaring choruses. The catchy tunes leave earworms aplenty, not least the awesome closer ‘Seamless’, and once again they’ve left me with a big smile on my face.

I’ve not seen Boston Manor for a while, and this main tour support slot coincides exactly with the Blackpool band’s latest album release “Datura”. They are absolutely on fire tonight, and do more than justice to their new and old tracks. Fans of You Me At Six and Young Guns will love these guys, but there’s also a harsher, almost an industrial edge to their music now, especially live. They’re still the excitable young lads jumping around, but there’s a real maturity to their song-writing and sound now - I’d say they’re pushing into Normandie and Siamese territory. The crowd is filling up loads, and plenty of fans are singing along, with everyone seemingly either totally into them or nodding along intently. They fuse heavy riffs with electronic effected elements and catchy choruses, with standout tracks ‘Foxglove’ and ‘Crocus’ demonstrating their now polished sound perfectly - the latter even reminding me of Filter or Nine Inch Nails. Importantly their live performance is as accomplished as their recorded versions, with crunching guitars, thundering bass and vibrant drums. With the new album, and tours like this, these guys are surely only going on to even bigger things.

I’ll gladly declare that tonight’s headliners Alexisonfire are one of my top bands ever. The Canadian’s unique blend of melodic hardcore, post-hardcore, arty rock, and angsty emotion is unbeatable. They smash straight into opener ‘Drunks, Lovers, Sinners and Saints’ and the crowd go wild – everyone is bouncing, singing along and grinning with uncontrollable smiles. Each member of the band is a charismatic character and stunning musician in their own right, and they seemingly effortlessly slot into their on-stage roles immediately. Second track ‘Boiled Frogs’ is one of my favourite ever songs, and it seems that’s true for a tonne of the crowd as they go even crazier to this than the opener. We move back through the ever-growing crowd to try and get some breathing space and better viewing options, but it’s difficult to find any real space in a sold-out gig here. Academy One isn’t great for anyone short (like my accompanying wife), with little chance of her seeing a thing, and it’s a shame they didn’t go for the Ritz with the balcony or even Apollo which they could’ve easily filled without losing any respective intimacy. But that’s not to detract from a virtuoso performance by the band, and endless joy from the punters. The band delivers a range from their catalogue, each in turn demonstrating overdriven angular guitar riffs, three-pronged varied vocals, killer basslines and even a soulful and exposed musical core. Those triple-threat vocals are the stand-out though - sumptuous bluesy-soulful soaring from Dallas Green, raspingly gruff yet melodic from Wade McNeill, and the harsh screaming and hardcore force from George Pettit. I’m almost completely wiped-out by security rugby tackling a guy just as the encore starts with ‘Young Cardinals’, but I don’t even look to see what’s happened as I can’t take my eyes off the performance up on stage. There are few bands that can match Alexisonfire on their day, and tonight was another of those days.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!