More about: Black Country New Road

At a sold-out Manchester show – still fresh with vitality and creative urgency as a sextet – Black Country, New Road provide a live confirmation that their latest metamorphosis is their most beguiling; as a musical force, they are doubly great in their triumph.

Multi-pronged genre wielders Black Country, New Road played to a giddily hungry Manchester audience at New Century House on Tuesday night, exhibiting the eclectic opus of their Live at Bush Hall album: a grand suite of typically bruising but unpredictably diverse jazz and beyond, the record had even more of a potent sound and narrative in the flesh. 

Not only was BC, NR’s performance intrinsically their own – ravishing in their moving spirit – so too was the energy of the venue and support act. A band of the grandeur BC, NR invoke rightfully deserve similarly illustrious surroundings. This Manchester venue certainly provided that, with multicoloured ceiling lights like a post-punk art installation that nurtured the band’s aura. SkyDaddy were the rapturously received support, with tunes which fit clumsily into a melancholy, melodic, post-rock/jazz mould (somewhere near BC, NR themselves). They were led by the uniquely charismatic frontman Tom Clancey, bolstered by robust, dynamic drumming from Pat Agesta, and enhanced by a rush of incredible harmonies. However, the highlight was easily a surprise appearance from BC, NR’s Tyler Hyde, joining Clancey on vocals for a beautiful and softly thrilling early track of theirs.

Overall, BC, NR’s set emphasised how the variety and democratisation of their vocals and more has led to a veritable truckload more vibrancy, eclecticism; more tracks, more instruments like Georgia Ellery’s mandolin. Just more. Throughout their relatively short existence, the band have seemingly metamorphosed with each release; this iteration though, as a fully harmonious sextet, is the most beguiling, satisfying yet.

In terms of the vocals, the breadth of each members’ equally characterful contribution boosts the band to supremely dizzying heights. Saxophonist Lewis Evans possessed immense vocal strength and emotion on the plaintive Across the Pond Friend, where it felt like he could have filled a venue twice the size with his warm individuality. Evans’ voice was also ripe for requesting certain disrespectful, noisy pockets of the audience to hush, in a playful, polite tone: “Be quiet people of Manchester.” 

"BC, NR’s latest live evolution is an enormous triumph with the band becoming greater musical beast with each transformation"

A long list of superlatives should also be hefted upon the vocals of Tyler Hyde and, especially, May Kershaw. The latter’s voice on the night’s standout Turbines/Pigs went beyond breath-taking; with dimmed lights, and Kershaw herself exclusively given a divine glow, alongside such poetically cutting lyrics, it felt more like a stealing of the soul. It was, however, brought back well nourished. An emotional climax to the track was weighted in increased sensory sadness through a loud, striking instrumental crescendo, and the rest of the sextet returning from darkness to blood red light.  

Bookended neatly – as well as uproariously well – by 'Up Song', the band pumped up the already elated crowd with it’s perfect singalong refrain. One of the greatest musical forces of recent years, BC, NR’s latest live evolution is an enormous triumph with the band becoming greater musical beast with each transformation.

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More about: Black Country New Road