Photo Credit: Georgia Cottrill
Words: Lilly Roberts
The Clause made a return to Manchester by selling out the Academy 2 as part of their ‘Victim Of A Casual Thing‘ tour, with support from The Slates and The Kairos. Manchester Academy 2 once again proves itself a reliable ground for emerging guitar bands, hosting a line-up that built momentum steadily throughout the night. With two strong support slots ahead of the headliners the room felt primed well before The Clause took the stage.
Opening duties fell to The Slates, whose distorted guitar tones and indie sound cut cleanly through the crowd. There was a rawness to their delivery that worked in their favour – unpolished but confident – and by the end of their set the floor had begun to fill.
Second support The Kairos raised the intensity further. Bridging the gap between the opener and the headliner with ease, they showed a clear understanding of pacing, drawing the crowd in gradually before letting the bigger moments land, and by the time they left the stage anticipation in the room had noticeably sharpened.
That anticipation paid off when The Clause appeared on stage. Opening with ‘Nothing’s As It Seems’, they quickly followed with ‘Tell Me What You Want‘, showing early on that this would be a tightly controlled, guitar-forward set. The sound was punchy without being overbearing, built around crisp riffs and hooks designed for live spaces.
As the night progressed, ‘Electric’ and ‘Pop Culture’ kept the tempo high, prompting high reactions from a crowd growing visibly giddy on familiar indie cues. ‘Exception’ landed with its chorus that met with collective dancing and volume, the kind of response that signals a band in sync with its audience.
The emotional centre arrived with ‘Where Are You Now’, written in memory of a passed loved one. The band allowed the song’s weight to speak for itself, a brief pause in momentum that added depth rather than breaking the band’s flow.
Closing with ‘Weekend Millionaire’ and ‘In My Element’, The Clause left Manchester buzzing. The night felt less like a routine tour date and more like a party with a band that will go on to outgrow venues like Manchester Academy 2.
Taped Magazine 