Tonight was pretty special…Brand New are only actually playing 4 UK shows this summer before jetting back home, and the shows have been sold out for a while. The excitement in the Manchester Academy 1 is soaring, even before Moneen have played a single chord, but it’s excitement for Brand New, and both supports would have to work extra hard to drag any attention their way.
Sadly, neither support acts fully manage that. Moneen are competent, but lack any real edge live – their brand of emo-rock fails to make a dent in the crowd, despite a general air of appreciation for them. They weren’t terrible, by any means, but it was always going to be difficult for them. Their sound has evolved since my only other experience of them, 2003’s ‘Are We Really Happy With Who We Are?’, and seems to have softened.
Moneen
Kevin Devine, a former acoustic solo-man, brings a full band with him tonight, possibly in an effort to appeal to BrandNew’s crowd. It works, to a certain extent, and the crowd are more reactive to him when compared to openers Moneen. However, after a while, each song seems to blur in to one, with only the occasional energetic flourish making any kind of impact on me. Approaching 9 o clock, most of the crowd have lost interest. It’s sad, because given a different setting it could have gone down better for Kevin and his band…but trying to ape Brand New at a Brand New gig is only ever going to raise the anticipation for the main act, and increase disinterest for your own.
Kevin Devine
When Brand New finally amble on to the stage, and launch into a track from the depths of their back catalogue, all thoughts and feelings for the earlier bands have dispersed and everyone is focussed intently. This is followed by a rousing rendition of ‘Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows’, led mainly by the crowd – Jesse Lacey honestly could have just played the first few chords and left the rest to them.
Brand New
It continues like this for the rest of the set, every old favourite accompanied by a wall of voices. There are, however, two new songs on the setlist tonight. It might have seemed risky to intersect the crowd-pleasing vibe with fresh material, but it goes as well as could have been expected.
Jesse
The new stuff seems to be going in a harsher direction, bring to mind The Bronx and a more punk-feel. Though, like I say, this was only two tracks. Given Brand New’s track record with variety on albums, this is in no way an indication of what to expect from the full thing.
Guitar
All in all, it was a good gig. If you’re a fan of Brand New, do your best to see them. It’s worth it, I’m sure you’ll agree.
