Unfortunately, arriving
somewhat later than planned due to a mixture of both work and
tonight's unusually early start time, we descend the stairs of
Manchester's Roadhouse just as the final notes of the support band
RDGLDGRN ring out, and have
barely enough time to grab a beer before Itch
takes to the stage. Tonight is the Kevin Says Tour, an offshoot from
this years Warped Tour featuring a selection of contemporary artists
from the line-up including the aforementioned RDGLDGRN as well as
The Hype Theory and Ghost
Town. Upon listening to those
that I missed when I got home, I came to the conclusion that fifteen
year old me would have been in my element, which could well explain
why much of the crowd were fresh-faced and beerless, and ultimately
perplexed by the headliner himself.
Ex-King
Blues frontman Itch struck out
on his own soon after the announcement of his band's death, and has
obviously been relishing in the new found freedom he has at his feet,
particularly when it comes to collaborations. The most recent of
which, 'Hopeless Romantic' kicks off tonight's set list brilliantly.
With Taking Back Sunday's
Adam Lazara taking up
vocal duties on the chorus (he isn't actually here), it's a fairly
mellowed start to an evening which promises to get heavier. And
get heavier it does, almost immediately in fact with 'Diplomat' the
first song from Manifesto Part 2
setting the tone for what's to follow excellently. Not one to miss
out on the action himself, Itch seems to spend most of the night down
on the floor with the audience, much to the surprise of some of the
younger members of the crowd.
Perhaps
the highlight of the evening comes just after the halfway point in
the form of 'Gutter Starz', with sleazy rock guitars forming the
verses and an anthemic synth chorus it's a fusion of styles that
summarises Itch himself perfectly. Sure it's been done before, but
really with this much passion, this much conviction. There's an
energy about tonight's show that surpasses that of your usual live
performance, sure the political sentiment might be lost on some
people, or and people might even disagree with some, but no one can
deny the absolute fervour and fire with which Itch delivers his
Manifesto.
There's
something inherently punk about Itch, and I don't mean 'punk'. It's
this that bleeds in to the crowd in a way that rarely happens at gigs
and could only happen in a venue such as the Roadhouse, or any other
of Manchester's spit 'n' sawdust venues. As a front-man, Itch was
just that. As a solo artist, he's far more. The King Blues were a
fantastic feel good band to which you could get drunk and dance; Itch
feels like someone you have to listen to, have to watch. And for
that, his performances are only going to get better.
