The Joy Formidable, ASIWYFA at Manchester's Academy
Academy 2, Manchester
15th October, 2011
听
It's not often we find And So I Watch You From Afar warming us up for another act. Such is their own reputation as proven headliners, they only open up for those they truly admire. So it's on this sold out date of their UK tour supporting The Joy Formidable that we're met with the new-look ASIWYFA.
Following Tony Wright's recent departure ex-Panama King Niall Kennedy has - for now - stepped in as the newest Gang member, and initially we can't decide which is more odd: not seeing their former guitarist tuning up on the right, or seeing Kennedy neither commanding centre stage nor behind the kit, as he has done previously.
Despite Wright's petite frame, he鈥檚 left a big pair of shoes to fill with the passion and blazing technicality we'd become so accustomed to. But by the time we're drowning in 'BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION's dexterous harmonies, Kennedy has left little doubt in our mind of his dedication.
Seeing himself and Rory Friers thrash and bound amongst duelling riffs feels strangely natural, but as an accomplished musician and a scion of the same north coast scene that birthed ASIWYFA in the first place, the chemistry is logical. What is remarkable however, is how well versed he is already in the band's material, while embodying all of their trademark ferocity, especially commendable in this Gangs-heavy set.
Though it's not quite a Belfast brawl down the front, there's no shortage of followers ready to make their presence known during the 鈥淲oos!鈥 of 'Set Guitars To Kill', and that unifying chant that fuels '7 Billion People' to impossible heights.
Whilst it might not be the easiest times for the band, with Tony鈥檚 exit and a monstrous touring slog ahead, you'd struggle to be anything short of swept away by tonight's brief but spirited assault, and warmed by the appreciation gushing to and from the stage.
With a functioning model lighthouse and a microphone stand built into a ship's helm, The Joy Formidable's impressive set-up breathes a powerful visual dimension into their submersive auditory voyage before we even set sail.
The Welsh shoegazers' punchier numbers lead off the performance with urgency, before gradually mushrooming into the grander, more heavily layered efforts. Although at their most direct during the likes of 'The Magnifying Glass', the band peaks when they take the time to allow the mammoth atmospherics wash over you.
Each progressive offering has slow, heavy ascents which rumble and free-fall into Ritzy Bryan's powerfully frail melodies, spearheading the widescreen noise-blitz of 'Whirring' which sees guitars discarded to feedback off the amps, while the effects pedals are thumped on like bongos.
'The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie' practically yanks the great beyond from the clouds, and feeds it through the most immoral amount of distortion perhaps ever heard.
This succession of acts have, to little surprise, complimented one another greatly, and to hear them back to back tonight has, aside from leaving us slightly hearing impaired, been our pride and Manchester's joy.
Daniel Robinson
Comments Post your comment