‘The Feel
Tour’ rolled into Manchester last week to play a sold out night at The Academy. Headlining act Sleeping With Sirens were
joined on the road by The Summer Set and
Hands Like Houses. With such an
eclectic mix of bands there was good reason that it sold out and we knew that
it was going to be a fun night for all involved.
Est.1987 headed down to the
show to check out all the action and managed to catch up with a couple of the
bands. Click below for our full report…
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| Hands Like Houses |
Having
had their sophomore release on repeat for weeks, we were looking forward to
seeing what their live show had to offer and as Hands Like Houses take to the stage it’s safe to say we weren’t the
only ones excited. ‘Unimagine’, the latest album from the Australian six-piece,
marks a definite step up for the band and it’s no surprise that the first track
on the record opens up their live set here in Manchester. They may be
supporting Sleeping With Sirens tonight,
but the crowd has gathered in the venue early and is eager and willing to get
involved. Opener, ‘Introduced Species’ delivers a powerful blow of anthemic
rock filled to the brim with an infectious chorus, intricate riffs and a
sprinkle of synths thrown in for good measure. The polished, more focused songs
of the new record shine and, if you hadn’t heard of them before, the bands make
their mark in Manchester tonight. There is definitely a sense of the laid-back
Australian nature about these guys; keyboardist Jamal Sabet is in bare feet,
and we kind of like it. They may be from across the other side of the world,
but they look right at home up there. Dividing up the set between both albums,
older songs such as ‘Don’t Look Now, I’m Being Followed. Act Normal’ with its
soaring chorus and gang vocal breakdown, are played alongside the newer
‘Shapeshifters’. With six members up there, on stage they can easily fill the
space but, instead of standing still they race up and down, and their energy is
contagious with the audience bouncing up and down. The only thing we wanted was
a longer set and we have no fear that Hands
Like Houses will be welcomed back very soon. 7.5/10
To read an interview with the guys about about working on their second album, the
Australian music scene and their new found love for British band Don Broco CLICK HERE
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| The Summer Set |
By
the time that The Summer Set takes to
the stage the venue is bursting and the crowd couldn’t be more excited about
seeing the Arizona quintet on a UK stage. The last time we saw them they were
in Manchester on a headline and they bring that same energy and force to their
support show tonight. Back with their third album The Summer Set has very much come in to their own and their huge UK
fanbase is evident here tonight, and the majority of the crowd at Manchester’s
Academy 1 is a sea of movement as they sing along to every word. Quirky,
pop-rock at its best, their set is filled with infectious hit after hit. Opener,
‘Lightning In A Bottle’, is upbeat and front-man Brian Dales delivers it
perfectly in order to draw in the crowd, not that they need much encouragement.
The Summer Set blitz through their
high octane set; the anthemic and percussive ‘Rescue’ pitted against the sugary
sweet love song ‘Someone Like You’. They may be a little sickly pop-rock for
some people, but they are pretty hard to dislike, and their live set is
undeniably refreshing. They bring a party energy to the stage and, as much as
they lock down vocals and instruments, they are up there having fun and loving
every single second of it. Older fan favourite, ‘Chelsea’, closes the set out
on a high. An impressive performance by the five-piece and it’s safe to say the
audience can’t wait to have them back on a headline tour soon. 9/10
To read an interview with front-man Brian Dales as he chats to us about life on the road, Christmas, and
rapping in the shower CLICK HERE
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| Sleeping With Sirens |
The
last time Sleeping With Sirens were
in town they were down the road at the smaller Ritz venue; even then the venue
was too small for them so it’s no surprise that tonight at the larger Manchester
Academy 1 it’s another sellout. The band is riding the wave of success in the
UK; the venue is packed and the screaming girls lining the front of the barrier
tell us this. And if the screams calling the band to the stage aren’t loud
enough, then the ones when front-man Kellin Quinn graces the stage reach another
decibel. ‘Here We Go’ perfectly opens proceedings, and the action both on stage
and off doesn’t stop until the end. Playing mostly from their latest album,
‘Feel’, the set is fast moving and high energy and they ease through tracks
such as ‘Congratulations’ and the soaring ‘Free Now’. Throwing things back a
little are heartfelt older songs ‘A Trophy Father’s Trophy Son’ and ‘Scene
Five: With Ears to See, and Eyes to Hear’. Kellin’s vocal range is showed off
to its full and he’s on point and effortless from start to finish. Although
missing out a few big Sleeping With
Sirens fan favourites, the post-hardcore pretty boys take to the stage once
more for an encore of the gritty and uplifting ‘If You Can’t Hang’.
It’s
safe to say that Sleeping With Sirens
have stepped their live show up a notch since we last saw them, and we’re not
just talking about the confetti cannon this time around. Blending heavy sounds
with melodic choruses, they are tighter than ever before and seem to throw even
more energy and force into their set. Joined on the road by Nick Martin (of D.R.U.G.S and Underminded) on guitar also adds a refreshing new dynamic to the
live show. Sleeping With Sirens certainly
don’t disappoint tonight; another successful sold out show under their belts,
here’s to the next one, Manchester. 8/10
