The DMA’s are still, four albums in, hell-bent on starting a riot everywhere they go.
But an evening spent at one of their gigs is the best kind of chaos, with music that immediately strips inhibitions and unleashes child-like, gleeful energy.
For a full 90 minutes at the O2 Apollo, there’s a swirling mass of 3500 people – from my perch up on the balcony, all I see is limbs and flashes of grinning faces.
The Australian trio are back out on tour, showing off music from their latest album How Many Dreams?
That new music, only a couple of weeks old at this point, is peppered throughout and received politely – but no one comes to a DMA’s gig wanting politeness.
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What we want is to belt out ‘The End’ with our elbows in each other’s faces, or sing ‘Tape Deck Sick’ with so much gusto you can feel it from your diaphragm.
The energy never gets more frenetic than it does for ‘Hello Girlfriend’, which truly is a bucket list experience for live music fans. Just when you think it’s over, just when the only sound left is feedback, Matt Mason is back at the mic chanting “Such a funny thing for me, try to explain” – and the band’s back, crashing drums and pounding guitars. Then quiet again, then Matt returns, and the pattern repeats, over and over, getting louder and louder, the crowd getting livelier and livelier. It seems like it will never stop – like we’ll all be sucked into a swirling vortex of flung pints of Carling and sticky floors for the rest of eternity.
But it does stop and slow down a little – for ‘Delete’, it’s less about shoving and more about hugging. I even spot a two-storey cuddle happening between a group of mates who are still on each other’s shoulders.
It’s pretty clear that frontman Tommy O’Dell has us all in the palm of his hand when he walks a stage-width away from his mic for the full ‘Silver’ chorus and we all fill in the gaps for him.
Their gigs in Manchester always have an air of a homecoming show about them. It doesn’t really make sense – they’re half-a-globe away from their actual home – but this bunch of Aussies have adopted that very distinctive Manc swagger, down to the waterproof parkas they all wear on stage.
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Johnny Took sincerely tells us: “You guys have changed our lives. You’ve taken us under your wing and it blows us away, so thank you.”
It makes sense then that the next time the DMA’s are back in Manchester, they’ll be supporting the Courteeners at their huge Heaton Park gig. Chaos is guaranteed.
The Script announced as latest Co-op Live act as they head back to Manchester
Danny Jones
Irish rock pop band The Script have been confirmed as the latest artists set to play Co-op Live arena as they prepare to make their Manchester return later this year.
Announcing the Co-op Live gig as part of their upcoming Satellite world tour, in support of their new album which is set to drop in just a few months’ time, the noughties and 2010s hit-makers will be coming to Manchester’s newest venue this fall.
With the trio having not long lost their lead guitarist and best mate Mark Sheehan during their run of Greatest Hits shows, this will be the first full tour they are set to play without him in the lineup.
Having gone back and regrouped, made a new record and now dropped their latest single ‘Both Ways’ at the same time on Friday morning, it’s full speed ahead for the boys with a massive world tour now on the horizon, including 20 European dates.
After being reduced to just two of the original found members, frontman Danny O’Donoghue and drummer Glen Power, the Dubliners have since doubled, inviting bassist Ben Sargeant and guitarist Ben Weaver to join the band earlier this month. They’re also still out on tour with pop legend Pink.
Their new album, Satellite, will mark their seventh studio LP and the first material released as a four-piece and is scheduled for release on 16 August, promising to deliver a whole new energy from the band.
Taking inspiration from the likes of The Black Eyed Peas and Bruno Mars, bassist Glen admitted that the sound “maybe not what people might expect from us but we’re The Script, and now we have something to prove: that there’s life and light after the darkness. It’s why we’re coming fast and strong with that one.”
Lead singer Danny added: “The album cover is silhouettes of me, Glen and Ben Sargeant, our bassist, who’s been with us from the beginning. Then we have a hooded silhouette, because the air of Mark is still there.
“He always will be, but it’s also giving a tip of the hat to the future. It’ll never be the same Script. We’re just trying to get on and do what it is that we all feel is the next right thing to do and that’s to keep making more great music.”
As for the show itself, The Script arrive at Co-op Live on 30 November – the final show of their UK leg and over two years since their last visit to Manchester at the AO Arena.
For those looking to grab tickets, fans who pre-order Satellites from the band’s official store before5pm on Tuesday, 21 May will receive access to an exclusive pre-sale for tickets for the UK and Irelandtour dates.
Pre-sale opens at9:30am on Wednesday, 22 May and general admission tickets go live at the same time on Friday, 24 May. You can grab yours HERE.
We’ve had the luxury of popping along to the brand-new arena a few times now and we have to say, it didn’t disappoint.
Black Keys at Co-op Live, Manchester – huge venue’s first taste of the blues
Charlie Watkinson
As a huge Black Keys fan, when I found out they were set to be the first band to grace the stage at Co-op Live, I just knew I had to be there.
Of course, it didn’t turn out that way.
After numerous cancellations and rescheduling, Elbow managed to nab the first spot, with the Black Keys taking to the stage the following night instead (several weeks later than their original show date).
Let me tell you though – they did not disappoint.
Having been one of the starry-eyed fans at Elbow the previous night, and been properly impressed by the sound quality inside the massive new Manchester venue, the thought of hearing Dan Auerbach’s epic bluesy riffs had me beyond excited.
Entering the stage playing the heavy-hitting I Got Mine, followed by one of their most well-known tracks, Gold on the Ceiling, it was evident we were in for a great show.
I have to admit, though, as a die-hard Black Keys fan, I couldn’t ignore how static the crowd was throughout the whole performance.
It almost seemed like the room was filled with people who didn’t know their songs, perhaps due to rescheduling and Co-op Live dishing out tickets to say ‘sorry for the inconvenience’?
The quiet stillness of the crowd did a great disservice to the electrifying talent on stage. Luckily, this didn’t matter too much.
Closing with their most popular song, Lonely Boy, I almost forgot how still the crowd had been as I watched the entire stadium howling, “DAH DAH DAH DAH DAH – DAH DAH DAH DAH DAH.”
Although I wanted more from the crowd, all in all, the Black Keys played a setlist fit for a super fan and gave Co-Op Live its first taste of the blues.
I just wished the audience had been Howlin’ for You all night, not so Tighten Up’… As you were.