Words & Photography: Izzi Glover
Rock City was not ready for this one. Blackpool band, Boston Manor, conquered Nottingham on their biggest UK headline tour to date.
First on was Split Chain, your classic emo, punk band. They certainly knew what crowd they were playing to. A great start to the night with energetic pulses of guitar riffs and heavy drum beats, powerful vocals and raw happiness.
Australian band, Trophy Eyes, have been following Boston Manor on their tour, and it’s plain to see why. The crowd were already so familiar with the band, singing every word, leaving the band in awe. It’s not every day you see mosh pits and crowd surfers during the support band, but alas here we are. Trophy Eyes have broken that standard.
One thing I love at a gig is a surprise, particularly when music and artist do not match. Vocalist, John Floreani, executed some of the most impressive screams and growls, which, I personally, was not expecting, considering how the set began. An excellent crowd warmer. You’d think you were watching the headline, watching these guys.
A mere 30 minutes later, each member of Boston Manor entered the stage in complete darkness as a moody, slow ballad began. Vocalist, Henry Cox, stood still for what must have been 2 minutes, simply singing Datura (Dawn), the opener off their latest offering, Sundiver, beautifully and effortlessly, creating a lovely, intimate beginning to what was soon to be a chaotic set.
The lights disappeared and left us all lingering waiting for a drop. Flashing lights then indicated something was happening. Sudden bursts of energy and power filled the stage as Container began. The progression of these two songs was an incline, a slow beginning to a massive finish.
Cox expressed a genuine love for Nottingham city and Rock City itself, egging the crowd on, and encouraging more energy. There’s nothing better than watching an artist that is genuinely so happy to be where they are, doing what they’re doing.
As a lovely bonus, we got a duet with Floreani of Trophy Eyes on Liquid. The combination of Cox and Floreani’s vocals together was something to behold. The perfect droney midwest emo vocal that we all know and love coinciding with raspy shouting. The juxtaposition worked wonderfully.
If there was one way to sum up this whole gig, it would be a massive crescendo of organised mess. You don’t know where you are or what’s going on and then suddenly there’s a super quiet and slow intermission, and you’re left wondering, “am I still at the same gig?”
The answer is yes. The whole experience was quite cinematic and theatrical; there was so much depth to the performance. The way the whole band performed was so emotive.
Boston Manor are continuing to tour the UK, performing all their latest releases off the latest album.