More about: Perfume Genius

It’s Tuesday evening and our venue is Manchester Cathedral, a stunning work of perpendicular Gothic architecture that makes for an impressive and intimate setting for any gig (for the sake of balance, there are no toilets save for three portaloos, a can of warm San Miguel costs £6.25 and it smells like mildew and school plays). Tonight it plays host to Perfume Genius, the American singer, songwriter and musician Mike Hadreas’ nom de guerre. Fresh off the release of his industrially tinged sixth studio album Ugly Season, he offers up explorative art/chamber pop that deals with tough topics such as domestic abuse, homophobia and Crohn’s disease.

Support on the night comes from British-Canadian artist Frank Belcourt, AKA Tiberius b. Equal parts Portishead, Sinead O’Connor and Dean Blunt, Tiberius b is a captivating and animated performer capable of mellowed out indie and guitar driven trip-hop. With vocal tinges reminiscent of Kate Bush and lyrics dealing with gender identity and sexuality, Belcourt’s set is brief but affecting.

The venue is probably only two thirds full, but when Perfume Genius emerges they’re met with an ecstatic reception. The band launch in to spacious opener ‘Your Body Changes Everything' with the precision of a well oiled music machine, whilst a beaming Mike Hadreas takes in his surroundings. What follows is 90 minutes of affirming progressive pop, soulful lighters-in-the-air balladry and triumphant AOR. Indeed, in a live setting, Perfume Genius’ blend of lyrical storytelling and stadium tinged arrangements see him become something of a post-modern, art-pop Springsteen as he reels off tales of beauty and struggle, pride and shame with rousing moments aplenty. His command of the crowd is impressive, and while he takes the time between songs to humbly thank the crowd, crack self-deprecating jokes and introduce his band members, as soon as the music kicks in again all eyes are on him. There are screamed cheers, laughter and even the occasional tear throughout a varied and emotional set-list.

Big cheers on the night come for 'Slip Away', a song I’ll have to do an injustice by admitting I recognise it primarily from FIFA 18. When, towards the end, Hadreas began to don a massive heap of non-descript white fabric and twist and cavort around the stage to a devilish, spaghetti western influenced number, all the while red lights flashing off the cathedral’s elaborate organ (ha ha), things got decidedly un-Catholic - a tongue in cheek apology to the man upstairs followed.

The set proper closes with the anthemic 'My Body' and 'Nothing at All'. After very briefly leaving the stage, and retangling himself in the fabric, calls for an encore are dutifully answered. The closest thing we get to a mosh pit brews down the front, and there’s pockets of dancing all over. The night ends with the soaring 'Queen'. “No family is safe, when I sashay” roars Perfume Genius and the crowd roar it back at him.

Put on such a powerful gig at a cathedral and the hackneyed metaphors write themselves. I was definitely converted.

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More about: Perfume Genius