By Jase Walker
Back in one of my favourite venues, Manchester’s infamous Victoria Warehouse, to see two bands that yet again tickle my nostalgia bone in the best way!
Due to some transport issues, unfortunately I’ve missed Destroy Boys which is a shame as I’m normally always down for catching the supports as it’s important to see newer bands in their stride up the venue chain!
Taking Back Sunday hit the stage and I have legitimately never seen Victoria Warehouse this full; I could barely even get past the thick of the crowd on the bottom floor area so I’ve opted to go to the mezzanine floor upstairs to get a reasonable view! I’ve been to quite a number of shows here but this is the first time I’ve not even been able to make a dent in the crowd.
Said crowd is electric, screaming for every single song even just as it starts. A stage show that by all accounts is pretty stripped down from what I’ve seen in this venue before, a very honest and raw setup. Admittedly I’m not familiar with TBS (beyond their big songs) to give a blow-by-blow song list but the light show and crowd energy is mind-blowing!
‘Liar’ immediately gets the crowd that obviously seem to be here for Alkaline Trio all going in unison, “oh, this is one I actually know!” The crowd as a whole are often singing louder than the band can actually play, what a chorus. Towards the end we were hit with ‘Cute Without The E’ and it’s party time, it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening because the crowd is going wild for this one! Smashing set from TBS, finishing up with ‘Make Damn Sure’, their biggest number and it goes down an absolute storm, soon time for the main slot!
Alkaline Trio get right into it with one of their biggest bangers, ‘Private Eye’, and the crowd erupts into movement: no introduction, just straight bangers. I’ve found some old friends that I’ve not seen in years from my hometown of Middlesbrough, and I don’t think I could have asked for better company.
I mean I thought I loved Alkaline Trio but the crowd is absolutely putting me to shame with knowing the words to every single song they’re playing. I know these guys have a big repertoire but my god, I feel like a fully new fan right now. I might be a bit bevvied up by this point but ‘Mercy Me’ is a top class banger and I’m screaming it right back!
As we draw to a close, the audience is a sea of waving arms all waving in unison to the finale, a true collection of fans that are enthralled to be here to see their favourite band. Finishing with ‘Time To Waste’, im a little disappointed that they didn’t include ‘Stupid Kid’ but ah well, a varied setlist is what you need with a venue like this and they can’t always please. It’s still been a fantastic show, and I’m glad to have been here to see the pop-punk giants doing what they do best!
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