Time Again are the first band up as Manchester Academy One kicks off with tonight’s Eastpak Antidote Tour in a venue that’s actually colder inside than outside.
I’m swanning around with my VIP pass by the time the guys come on an I wander over to the barrier to see what all the fuss is about. I say wander because it’s 6.45pm and the venue is practically empty apart from me and a couple of forty-something’s who aren’t willing to let a bunch of kids take their place at the barrier for the main band - Flogging Molly.
Singer Daniel Dart leaps around in his massive coat; either to keep warm in this huge ice box or to get the tiny crowd to move around the huge empty space to create some shared body heat.
Throughout their set, which was cut short for some reason, the venue filled up slowly and people started to move around a little bit more however, when the guys played Broken Bodies no-one was even beginning to break a sweat; never mind bodies!
When it comes to Stories Are True the whole crowd sings along to punk icon, Tim Armstrong’s part much to the bands amusement and Daniel leaps onto the barrier and shoves the microphone into some excited lad’s face… so it is true that everyone get’s their five minutes of fame!
Despite the empty room, the guys fill it with energy and of course their catchy punk rock tunes which - to a girl who really isn’t a fan of that music per se - can actually uplift any mood and make you want to get your dancing shoes on!
After they are rudely cut short just when I am starting to enjoy myself, those Street Dogs from Boston, Massachusetts (as frontman Mike McColgan repeats constantly throughout the set) take to the stage and the few people in the Academy surge forward.
Perhaps it’s because Mike had previously found fame as the singer of The Dropkick Murphys, who even I have heard of before, or because he stumbles around the stage like a drunk bloke who found his way onto the stage; but the audience are captivated.
However, I am soon informed that this is what people in punk bands do, much like the rock stars mosh and rappers make gun signs with their hands. Oh, I’m so out of touch… however his high kicks to every drum beat is pretty cool. I’m a fan of choreography!
I spend the first couple of minutes trying to work out who the singer looks like until it finally dawns on me that he is the spitting image of French Stewart… you know, the weird one in Third Rock From The Sun?
Anyway, back to the gig and the guy prance around the stage like dogs on heat, giving their beat gurn faces and constantly spitting balls of phlem high into the air. Nice.
Their music is a lot tighter than the last band and their obvious Irish Punk Rock influences shine through like a floodlight in your eyes with their catchy limericks making you dance around like a little leprechaun.
Their live sound is perfectly timed and the guys interact with each other just as much as they do with the crowd. They even drag in Elijah from Time Again when it comes to belting out the drinking song; Tobe’s Got A Drinking Problem. Okay, so we shouldn’t really be celebrating alcoholism, but oh well it does have you reaching for a Guinness - not, however, the can that Mike launched into the crowd, soaking them through - only to have it thrown right back at his head.
To try and right the wrongs of throwing cans at his fans, Mike leaps from the stage to the barriers - which is quite a way mind you - and sings right into the faces of the people he just drenched in dry stout who are now waving their pints around frantically, not caring that most of their drink is ending up on the people stood next to them.
Two Angry Kids is one song that I start to dance to and my friend can’t believe her eyes. I have to say that the guitars, bass and drums are really tight and it has a melody that makes me want to prance around the room locking arms with everyone as I go!
However, it all goes horribly wrong when Mike takes off his jumper to reveal a Manchester United shirt, resulting in a roomful of boo’s from all the Manchester City fans (who should have been at the Man City game instead of here at the Academy then.)
And on that note, I wandered off to drink more beer.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Pictures - Claire Louise Parkinson