Stockport sensation Blossoms held nothing back on the first of five back-to-back gigs across the city at Manchester Academy – with an 8ft fibreglass gorilla called ‘Gary’ accompanying them.
The group’s Manchester mini-tour featuring five different venues comes just over a month after the release of their fifth studio album and in the last days of their UK tour.
Manchester Academy is a venue with standing room only and there was no floor space unfilled at the sold out opening night.
The fog was still dissipating from the two opening acts as the lights turned down as the band and lead singer Tom Ogden took centre stage.
Wielding a drumstick in his right hand and holding his left arm extended with palm open to the ceiling, the lights turned up and familiar percussion led into the band’s first song of the night- from their third studio album – 2019’s ‘Girlfriend’.
On the coldest night in Manchester this winter the crowd warmed up quickly as pianist Myles Kellock transitioned into the familiar chords from their second album when the crowd preceded even Ogden in screaming out the catchy chorus “I can’t stand it”- using the cord of his microphone to emphasise the punchiest lines, the band worked through songs from all five of their studio albums.
Every member took centre stage – keyboardist Myles Kellock transitioning from keyboard to keytar -Drummer Joe Donocan from drums to marching drums, and lead guitarist Josh Dewhurst from acoustic to electric to percussion.
A rare instrumental break saw the band gather together around drummer Joe Donovan for an improvised percussive jam session before the audience was transported to a nightclub of times past complete with a neon sign as Ogden sang the opening lines to ‘Night Club’
Blossoms saved some of their latest ear worms for last with Gary the gorilla making an appearance to close out the show as the crowd roared along.
The night featured old songs, new songs, singles- and the band carried on with energy, with no hit left unplayed in the 90 minute set. The crowd was buzzing, and Blossoms pulled the cold, sobriety of a Tuesday night away from people and transported the audience into a less serious space with Tom Ogden often pointing the mic to the audience to sing entire verses.
The band played at the O2 Ritz on Wednesday, and will take the stage at Albert Hall on Thursday, Victoria Warehouse on Friday, before their last show at 02 Apollo on Saturday, November 23rd.
