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Live Reviews

Manchester Orchestra Live

Heaven, London
17th November 2009

Manchester Orchestra are one of those bands you might’ve heard of but haven’t quite got around to checking out yet. Well, check them out quick. Every soul who they’ve played to in their diligent trips to the UK over the past couple of years seems to have been drawn back to the band like a moth to a lightbulb whenever they come back to these shores.The audience at Heaven tonight is rapt and enjoying every second.

The fascinating thing about Manchester Orchestra’s live set is the intense range of dynamics on show. From the softly softly acoustic portions, tackled solo by frontman Andy where you can hear every murmur in the crowd, to the full on intensity and delicious but ear-assaulting jaggedness of their rockier material such as current single ‘Shake It Out’. Keyboardist Chris often takes to his own drumkit (yes, a second in addition to Jeremiah’s regular kit) at poignant louder moments, building the concentration of power in the music to an overwhelming height only to be stripped right back again to its bare bones.

The singles from latest album ‘Mean Everything To Nothing’ are clear standout tracks here with ‘Shake It Out’ and the radio-friendly but emotive ‘I’ve Got Friends’ being surefire crowd pleasers. Having said that, every single track the band bring out is beautifully crafted and executed in the live arena with such aplomb, that you can’t help but be in awe of their talents. They tread the fine line between perfectionism and rocking out without a care in the world so the music sounds free and easy yet tightly observed and flawlessly performed at the same time. The members of Manchester Orchestra are clearly beyond comfortable playing with each other and have developed that sixth sense of understanding what each other is doing that comes when you have played and worked hard in an ensemble for long enough. True brilliance at work.

Winey G