Manchester band City Reign looked to live up to their name as they gave fans a tease of their new material at Gullivers.
The gig was originally scheduled to take place just over the road at the Castle, but Reign boys had sold the venue out three months in advance.
The enthusiastic crowd – as exuberant as you would expect for a gig they had been planning to see for months – had steadily grown to a 120-strong throng of people crowded into the venue.
Finally, the indie rockers City Reign took the stage.
The Manchester band has so far released one album and two EPs and the diehards among the crowd began to sing along with the familiar songs.
At first glance, the casual fan may have found them less convincing. There was nothing inherently bad about the songs but they were, at best, generic.
However, halfway through the set, the band announced they were going to play give fans a sneak peak at some new material.
All of a sudden, the potential was instantly more apparent.
The band had managed to ditch the desire to be heard as individuals and bonded into a band, turning a collection of noise and instruments into well-crafted music.
The bass became staccato and the drums began to roll. The guitar whined and the vocals blended into the song.
‘Is there a reason why?’ sung the lead guitarist and this song immediately became reason for being there.
The lyrics came from the heart and towards the end the guitar broke out from the song to truly soar over the bass and drums.
One influence on the new songs is Dire Straits, but the Mancunians also hint at New Jersey guitar gods The Gaslight Anthem.
When the new album is released, it should be well worth a listen.
But one more thing came out of this night.
Although, for most, City Reign was obviously the main attraction, the first band to take the stage ultimately stole the show.
Other People’s Lives, a Leeds-based band, kicked off the night with a song called In Berlin. The vocals sank hauntingly into the music until they could only be referred to as another instrument.
The hypnotic sound was underpinned by strong drums that almost left the crowd unsure whether the drummer was playing the drums or attempting to beat them into submission. Either way his stamina was to be admired.
The chiming keyboard and guitars and melody-carrying vocals recalled Pink Floyd – if Pink Floyd had ever been fronted by Rick Wilson of Kaiser Chiefs.
Either way, this band is one to look out keep an ear out for.
Image courtesy of City Reign via Youtube, with thanks
