Manc rock revival
'Not 19 Forever' may be the title of one of The Courteeners main songs but it is also a stark lesson in life although for this reviewer, not 29 forever could be as apt. Just over a month is left before the big three zero and the onset of age was never more evident in this venue. Walking into the main venue ten minutes before the band were due on stage, Oasis were blaring out of the PA and the crowd were chanting “Liam, Liam” in honour of the lead singer.
Almost half a life ago the same scene was being played out up and down the country as the Gallagher brothers created a new era of Mancunian musical magic. The rise of The Courteeners has been written off by some as a bunch of revisionism but an early appraisal of their sound indicates a far wider variety than some people would give them credit for.
Opening track 'Aftershow' has the great line of “you're having a shit night...I'm having a ball” which immediately stands the band out as one that knows to have a good time. The opening few numbers carried on this high octane buzz and it’s easy to see why this band mean the world to a new generation of kids.
One of the influences that come out throughout the set seems to be a more traditional sound and we don't mean The Beatles. Without being sure of the bands lineage, it would be impossible to state the level of influence but there is a definite nod to Irish ballads and bands like The Dubliners. The way the vocals are delivered have a strong link to this type of sound and it goes some way to explaining the universal appeal of the band. You get the impression that my dad would approve of this much but that may take the song title to not 59 forever, which may be stretching matters a little too much!
There was a break in proceedings when the band trooped off leaving lead man with his guitar and his storytelling approach to music for a brief interlude which was well received.
The full band reassembled on stage to power through the rest of their set and the band finished with 'Not 19 Forever.' It was brilliant and had the crowd jumping about but sadly also showed the low-point of the evening. There is never any need for the music of James and it was with great disappointment to hear The Courteeners to slip in a snippet of 'Tomorrow' by those past their sell-by date chancers.
Still, that was the only real low point on a night when The Courteeners gave a strong indication that they are far better than the media talk about them suggests.