American indie-rock outfit Lord Huron make the transatlantic journey to the UK to continue their headline tour at Manchester’s 02 Apollo this evening. The cinematic elements of Lord Huron’s shows are often a spectacle that draws audiences from all around the country. Hopefully tonight the crowd in Manchester will be treated to the immersive, almost cinematic performance Lord Huron thrive upon.
On arrival we were greeted by a venue almost overflowing with people. Squashed and sweating, we reluctantly assumed the available space in the standing area.
A female-fronted band under the guise Pillow Queens grace the stage when we arrive. The Irish outfit play a blend of melodic indie-rock, laced with harmonies that weave in and out of the songs, whilst driving rhythms keep the songs melodic throughout the set.
Addressing what is by now a substantial crowd, Pillow Queens begin their final offering, entitled Liffey. An ode to the river weaving its way through the heart of Dublin. “We’re Pillow Queens and we’ve been on tour with Lord Huron for a few weeks now, and for our last song we’d like to invite Misty from Lord Huron on stage”. An accomplished performance from the Irish indie band, with strong harmonies and a confidence throughout the show this evening. Stand out tracks: Like a Lesson, Liffey, and Be By Your Side. 6/10
As the wait for the headline act Lord Huron begins, bars become flooded around the 02 Apollo, in preparation for the main act. Music fades and lights dim signalling the arrival of the main act tonight, Lord Huron. It is evident from the very beginning that, as mentioned earlier, the stage set is indeed a spectacle of its own, with shimmering glittery curtains encompassing the backdrop of the stage. An imposing jukebox also fills a significant portion of the stage.
Looking immaculate, lead vocalist Ben Schneider’s warm and soothing vocals fill the venue. Lord Huron’s performance continues to weave from tame acoustic numbers to faster electric anthems. The crowd are happy just to soak up the sheer presence of Lord Huron this evening, as they listen intently.
Formed in 2010, Lord Huron have honed their performances over the years in order to become very comfortable and confident with their surroundings, even with the substantial crowd here this evening. Lead vocalist Ben Schneider addresses the crowd with the relaxed tone that has been present all evening. “Hello Manchester, how are y’all? I won’t talk too much tonight, but from each and every one of us on stage to each and every one of you down there, thank you. There’s a lot more of you than last time.”
Although the audience loved every sinew of this performance tonight, Ends of The Earth, The Night We Met and Not Dead Yet receive perhaps the best reactions of the evening. Tonight was a confident, calm and measured performance from a band that possess talent in abundance. Stand out tracks: Ends of The Earth, The Night We Met and Not Dead Yet. 8/10
Written by: Ben Gilligan
