Photo Credit: @ambgyphotography
Though THE MENZINGERS‘ last appearance in Manchester was only 18 months ago, the Pennsylvania punk rockers kicked off 2024 with a bang. Last year saw the release of their brand new album ‘Some Of It Was True’ and gave fans plenty of time to get familiar with the fresh material ahead of their upcoming UK tour.
Fellow Pennsylvanian band GLADIE started with an electrifying punk influenced atmosphere to warm up the crowd. The quintet’s lively anthems complemented their stage presence superbly. The band’s addition of an indie sound to their music works exquisitely and is quite distinctive, even though there are obvious punk elements. ‘When You Leave the Sun’ served as the last song of their set, and despite its more raw elements, it is still regarded as a masterpiece in their discography.
Bringing their outrageous 00s skate punk rock sound to the wet city, PRINCE DADDY & THE HYENA were a huge hit. Despite the band’s fierce intensity which is undoubtedly difficult to sustain for thirty minutes, these guys seem to be seasoned pros at it. Throughout the performance, the New Yorkers’ ability to switch between pop-punk and a more grungey sound was greatly appreciated by those who weren’t familiar with the band, and widely appreciated going off the crowd’s reception.
It was time for the main event on this typical Manchester rainy evening, and the place was thoroughly warmed up now after two stellar supporting acts. The entire venue screamed as the lights dropped down, welcoming THE MENZINGERS as they emerged from the wings to the sound of Dire Straits’ ‘Walk of Life’ bursting from the speakers.
Photo Credit: @ambgyphotography
Like on their most recent release ‘Some Of It Was True‘ the band opened their powerful set with ‘Hope Is A Dangerous Little Thing‘. They immediately swiftly moved onto their cherished classic ‘I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore’ which had the eager Manchester attendees screaming the lyrics back to them.
The band showed that they were not afraid to mix things up on this tour, playing a number of hits from their latest record in addition to a number of golden oldies, such as ‘Good Things’ and ‘Lookers’, which appeared early in the set and lifted the emotions of their fans.
Tracks from both ‘After the Party’ and ‘Hello Exile’ were nestled perfectly in the varied set list, with ‘Anna’, ‘Tellin’ Lies’ and ‘Thick As Thieves’ all serving as the most well received anthems on the night. Guitarist/vocalist Tom May’s constant jumping back and forth on stage mirrored the vibrant crowd perfectly throughout the night.
The main set was closed with ‘After the Party’ the title track from their 2017 masterpiece, which is increasingly meaningful to THE MENZINGERS‘ devoted fan base. In addition to providing a safe haven for many, their live shows also foster companionship despite the unavoidable fact that our 30s are coming to an end.
Following a brief break, the Scranton lads took the stage once again to close the evening with ‘Gates’ and ‘Casey’ capping off yet another performance in Manchester from THE MENZINGERS.
Taped Magazine 