Photo Credit: Georgia Cottrill
Words: Sophie Thompson
Wednesday night saw Scottish indie rock stars Vistas electrify Manchester’s Gorilla for the first night of their ‘Cut the Chord‘ tour in support of their fourth studio album released earlier this year. From the first note they gave an energetic performance which had the floor bouncing, their signature energy radiating through each track.
Cherryholt started the evening, a young 5 piece from Lincolnshire made up of 18–19-year-olds. Despite their young age they managed to encapsulate the nostalgic feeling of early noughties indie rock music. Fuelled by explosive guitars and thunderous drumbeats. Cherryholt set the tone for a night full of rousing guitar riffs and incredible vocals. Cherryholt ended their incredible set with their breakout single ‘Irresistible‘ which gained attraction on TikTok and enabled them to launch beyond their small-town roots and gain mainstream attention.
Next up was L’Objectif a Leeds based rock band fronted by guitarist and vocalist Saul Kane, the band formed as a group of school friends at the age of 12, since then they have grown into one of the UK’s most promising acts. With a discography consisting of 3 EPs, they curated a set that balanced fan favourites with newer unreleased material. They blend gritty guitar work with emotionally charged lyrics giving them a sound which is reminiscent of the energy found in bands like Wunderhorse and The Royston Club. Closing their set with ‘The Dance You Sell‘, arguably one of the bands most famous songs, L’Objectif left no doubt that they are destined for bigger stages. The NME had called them “One of Britain’s most intriguing young bands” and Wednesday night’s performance only affirmed this.
Then came the moment the 500 strong crowd at Manchester’s Gorilla had been waiting for. The stage lights dimmed, and cheers erupted as Scottish indie rockers Vistas made their awaited arrival onto the stage. Opening their set with ‘Cut the Chord‘ the punchy title track for their most recent album immediately igniting the crowd. After the energetic opening to their set, they effortlessly changed into ‘Smile‘ which is packed with sharp guitars and infectious energy which is inevitable to get the crowd moving and floors bouncing.
Their setlist consisted of a balanced blend of fan favourites such as ‘Tigerblood‘ and ‘Sentimental‘ alongside fresh tracks such as ‘The Middle‘ and ‘Take it From the Skies‘ which received just as much excitement from the crowd as the older ones, proving that the bands evolution continues to deeply resonate with the fans . The way the Manchester crowd greeted each song like an old friend proved that it really is live on stage where Vistas music truly comes to life.
Hailing from Edinburgh the trio, consisting of Prentice Robertson, Dylan Rush and Jamie Law. Together Vistas have a chemistry which creates an infectious energy which carries through to every crowd they perform in front of. Their infectious energy and undeniable charisma turn every live gig into a celebration which gets the entire crowd dancing
Closing the night with two of their beloved songs ‘Back of the Car‘ and ‘Stranger‘, the latter being the song which shot the Scottish band to stardom in 2020 before exiting the stage to a roaring applause. If this performance is anything to go by, it is inevitable that Vistas are on the rise to even bigger stages with their ever-growing fanbase ready to follow them along the way.
Taped Magazine 