Kill Hannah
Kill Hannah’s Halloween gig at the Manchester Academy promised to be something a bit special; and not just because of the hundreds of kids in fancy dress lined up outside.
No one can ignore the fact that these guys have battled on to make it to Manchester (and in fact the UK) after their horrific tour bus fire in the Alps last month. Whether you’re a fan or not, you have to respect the guys carrying on with the gigs instead of just packing up and going home.
When they entered the stage amid sirens and smoke… you knew tonight -being Halloween - was going to be better than all the rest… and as the guys come out dressed as firemen a huge cheer rings out and the party begins.
With the first note the floor begins to shake as the entire room jumps up and down in excitement - with an average age of just 15; I’m not quite sure it’s because there is something utterly irresistible about firemen. Especially Mr Mat Devine.
As the set moves on the kids squash up to the barrier more and more and stretch their arms out as far as they can in the hope of touching their heroes just once.. For those kids nearest to the front they shove their home-made banners in Mat’s face every time he comes forward - he even has the good grace to pick a few up and fling them around.
The band are very eager to perform and spent the hour flailing around the stage pulling out their best rock moves whilst continuously flicking their fringes out of their eyes.
For a band who seem to be quite understated at the moment - despite having four albums under their belts - they put everything they have into these shows; it’s like they really know how much these kids look up to them and despite only having the clothes on their backs, (plus firemen outfits) they never once let the smiles leave their boyish faces.
Mat Devine’s vocals drain into your ears like a creamy hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night and he really is a great frontman. His actions on stage make it clear that he is influenced by the likes of The Cure and it’s refreshing to see a rock band who don’t just mosh about the stage all night. Mat climbs into the audience and even drags two crazed fans onto the stage to join him in Lips Like Morphine
The whole show is driven by the deafening screams of the fans as well as the Mat’s gyrating moves which sort of make the gig like a live sex show… except with clothes on - wonder if we can continue this party somewhere afterwards…?
Anyway, back to business and it’s worth pointing out that the stand-in guitarist Tom Schleiter was absolutely perfect. Unless you are head over heels in love with the ’actual’ guitarist Jonny Radtke then you might not even notice the difference as Tom pulls off every song with great ease - it’s almost like he’s known the songs all his life.
His baby faced good looks and oodles of stage presence and sex appeal (perhaps not to the 12 year old kids… but to us ’adults’) make him look great up there rocking out on stage, and the guys include him in everything they do, with the delicious Greg Corner continuously venturing over to play alongside his new friend.
All in all, this gig was a great way to spend Halloween 2008; the day when Emo kids and Goths come out to play without being made fun of by the Chavs in the street. I think Mat summed it all up perfectly;; “When you’re at a Kill Hannah gig, you will always fit inâ€
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Check out what happened when we caught up with the enigmatic Mat Devine here