Brandon Flowers Manchester Academy
24th May 2015
In 2013 I went to see The Killers play live in Manchester on their 'Battle Born' Tour,and they were awesome. 2 years later 'Brandon Flowers' their charismatic frontman has decided to record the second Solo album (the latter being debut solo album 'Flamingo' in 2010) , recently on record for stating that 'Battle Born' wasn't the best album 'The Killers' did it could've been better, self critical of his band he releases the daring 80's influenced 'The Desired Effect'.
So now 'Brandon' is here in the UK on tour, which has completely sold out everywhere in minutes, the tour kicked off in 'Brixton Academy' London and he had 'Chrissie Hynde' as his special guest where they duetted 'Don't Get Me Wrong' to rave reviews, today he's here in 'Manchester',so what or who does 'Mr Flowers' have up his sleeve for tonights show??,as he soundchecks for over an hour (well he is a perfectionist and they have a new drummer so its gotta be right) it sounds good and I soon know who the special guest is I knew it would be him to be honest, and all will be revealed in the blog later.
As we queue outside,there's lots of excited fans waiting patiently in numerical order (IE markered up),so that when the doors open it should be easy and fair first come first served,well yes it should've been but security decided to cause a panic by queuing us up by 2 doors and letting one side in seconds before the front of the queue so then you get your queue jumpers and pusher forwards, eg.. causing bother,it was chaos however I managed to get a place on the barrier in front but not without a scuffle and a row with 1 fan complaining she wasn't stood with her friend and they were squashed, I said "I cant do anything about that love ,I'm not losing my place changing over" she was upset I looked at her in disbelief and said "Have you been to many gigs ??" I mean when do you ever get to stand next to your mate in the queue it virtually never happens does it !!
So yes it was very squashed and support band 'Joywave' from 'Rochester ,New York' walk on stage they already have a following on this tour and are quite a hit with 'The Victims' (The Killers Fanclub Term),lead singer was in black with black rimmed glasses looking quirky and dancing about ,their sound was akin to 'Friendly Fires' meets 'Hot Chip' in an indie dance beat crossover they played some quite catchy material.
Bringing us nicely onto 'Mr Flowers' himself as he walks on with his new band,wearing a uniquely tailored military jacket and slim fit trousers and his new trademark beige suede ankle boots,he beams a smile out to the crowd takes to the mic and begins 'Dreams Come True' a new song from 'The Desired Effect' he looks really pleased with the crowd tonight we're very loud, it is of course totally Sold Out!!, as he leaps up and over the amps with ease all the girls and boys scream and it's only just begun.
He walks towards the edge of the stage toward the crowd and introduces 'Can't Deny My Love' the new single now his band has a new drummer in the line up he's had to learn all the new 'Brandon Flowers' material in a short space of time to ensure he's comfortable with them,So far so good,a song which really stood out was 'Hard Enough' with catchy chorus and 'Brandon' looking a total star,it was then time to treat us to a 'Killers' song a slowed down version of 'Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine' from 'Hot Fuss' and a couple more from 'Sams Town' 'Read My Mind' which was superb 'Mr Las Vegas' has done it again the crowd in the palm of his hand,you could tell he really lived and loved for being onstage tonight, he was like a kid in a sweet shop,his smile lit up the room.
Next up a 'Flamingo' fav set with 'Crossfire' and 'Magdelena' we all danced a bit more it felt less squashy and more relaxed, then he played 'Only The Young' we all did the hand actions like in the video, and sang along 'Brandon's energy was so infectious,it felt like a special show which obviously wanted to achieve tonight, Nailed it !!
So he treated us to another 'Killers' song 'Mr Brightside' which lifted the roof off the Academy, Encore time and who can it be? who is this special guest,'Brandon' finally introduces him onstage after a speech on Manchester music, can you guess ? he's from Manchester ...is responsible for being a pioneer in electro dance music in one of the biggest 80's band both here and in the U.S. and still going today... it is of course 'Bernard Sumner' of 'New Order' he walks on in a humbled manner and shuffles over to 'Brandon' and they begin 'Bizarre Love Triangle' with Brandon singing on some of the verses and chorus,it's awesome to watch as 'Bernard' does his unique dancing the younger people in the audience wont have a clue who 'New Order' are but they'll know this song now.
'Brandon' looks like he's the cat that got the cream he loves 'New Order' and these guys have known each other for few years now so the chemistry was easy to see. as 'Bernard' gracefully exits the stage waving, 'Brandon' brings himself back to earth by playing 'I Can Change' my fav from the album it actually samples 'Bronski Beat's 'Smalltown Boy' another tribute of his love of all things 80's never more celebrated than on his current release 'The Desired Effect' he ends the set with 1st single taken from it 'Still Want You' complete with sing along bit and total domination of the stage 'Brandon' simultaneously conquers Manchester again and he and the band leave to rapturous applause.
Show over??
Outside the venue fans wait to catch a glimpse of their idol leaving the venue around 50 of us can hear shouting/talking I walk over to edge of the Academy building about to leave for my train when 'Brandon's guitar player appears with a guitar saying "If you all be quiet we might have a surprise for you" so we stand watching looking up as some lights are assembled and then 'Brandon' appears on the balcony waving smiling you'd think he hadn't even played the gig yet he looked so fresh and excitable he sang a beautiful acoustic version of 'The Way It's Always Been' and we all sang along its was amazing they filmed us apparently ,is it possible 'Brandon Flowers' is the new 'Elvis' of our Generation, Totally Awesome !!
Photos in the gallery soon got some great ones here's one for now below :0)
Lmi xo
William Control Satans Hollow Manchester 25.04.2015
Here is a gig I wasn't going to on my schedule, but my good friend Michelle suggested I check this out when I first met her , she's a HUGE fan of 'William Control' so this blog is a joint effort as she gave me the lowdown on the man himself to give me a start and I was lucky to get on the guestlist (even after we had a mix up on the door).
The setting tonight is 'Satans Hollow' and it's one of complicated décor, the stage area is rounded like the chasms of hell, behind it a Huge effigy of Satan himself with Red Flashing Eyes, all round the corners are stained glass window effect décor, the venue names itself as a 'Neuromantic-Discotechque'.
The audience tonight consists of 14+ boys and girls mainly decked out in 'AshesToAngels' T-shirts a band playing on the bill tonight ..more later, and also more importantly there are mixed ages of people 20,30,40's hell I even spotted a woman who looked at least 70 I kid you not !!.
The first band to come on were local band 'Without Andrew' clearly influenced by Green Day /Blink 182 and with a woman on Bass guitar, the male guitarist with long fluffy blonde locks is quite chatty he even walks out of the stage area to join the crowd outside the rounded stage to jam around and fans can join in with the entertainment which was basically low railings pitched up on hell folks !!
2nd support band tonight is from 'AshesToAngels' a Neu -Metal Rock band from Bristol , influenced by 'The Blackout' and early 'Linkin Park' from what I can hear so far ,on walk's the singer, well I say walk's it was more like bounding stomping and leaping onto boxes in front of the stage, his head almost touching the catacombes of hell.
He bounces about left to right like an energetic 8 year old on Red Bull, and I'm exhausted and enthralled just watching him as he climbs on the edge of the barrier reaching out grabbing hands, 'Manchester I've lost my voice , I lost it in Whitby' at least I think that is what he says I'm slightly deafened even wearing earplugs standing right next to the speaker with Michelle who has no earplugs tonight ha.
He beckons us all to come to front Yelling at us in a frenzy "Come On you people round the side, you'll have more fun down at the front, Get over Here "!!! (no wonder he lost his voice lol!!) I look blankly at a him as he's getting too close at times, No thanks think I'll stay here if its all the same in case I get stood on litererally, there are a lot of girls in here tonight mainly fans of this band , then it all looks like it going a bit wrong for a few minutes when the guitarists battery pack ...well packs up, it dosen't stop the show they just get on with it.
Next up the main act 'William Control' , let me explain some important facts 'Will' is better known as lead singer in US Rock band 'Aiden' very heavy vitriolic vocals,heavily tattooed and wearing chains and rings, got it ?? well forget that now because this is now the new persona.
Influenced by 'Joy Division', 'Depeche Mode' and 'Bauhaus' he's developed his own sophisticated style , gone is the hard looking metal and chain rough look in is the sexy vampire Neu-Romantic look in make up, wearing purple shirt and custom made Black and White waistcoat with 'WC' logo on the back,when he walks on he bows gracefully points to people around him in the crowd,first thing I notice is the drummer right under our noses at the side and he deliberately spills water over the cymbols and bashes them water flies everywhere a great start... already excited.
The songs are really catchy as he begins with "Adore" (Fall in Love Forever) and everything is going well the atmosphere is very dramatic almost theatrical a killer sound of synth and electro beats, he speaks "Manchester ,so good to be back here so many infuences for me .." he reels off lists of 'Manchester Musicians', he already has the audience in the palm of his hand and Now Flattery lol.
Another song that caught my attention tonight was 'A New World Order" and also 'Price We Pay", its almost encore time, he is so excited to be back that he punches a cymbol on Ben's drumkit a bit too hard that it falls off , cue emergency support band member singer of 'AshesToAngels' holding the cymbol as Ben bashes it when needed during song 'Razors Edge' and eventually its put back on securely it was so funny and 'Will' laughed he couldn't believe what he'd done it was comical.
Then it was time to say goodnight, what a great show highly entertaining, unfortunately 'Will' tell's the crowd that it's the last time in the UK as 'William Control' as he is going back to reform 'Aiden' and they've recorded a new album for which they will tour for, I think personally he should stick with this route as he is pretty iconic looking onstage with his image and act , that it's almost lost on me when he's singing in 'Aiden' I have only ever seen them once in 2007 and wasn't enamoured I'm afraid.
My friend hangs around to chat to them in the venue after the show and I get to meet 'Mr Control' himself who was very charming and polite and I compliment him on his show,a great rock night to kick start the festival season, just round the corner!!
So Much to come til next time we rock this place again...
I Bid You Farewell ...Not Goodbye !!!
LMi & Michelle The Worlds Biggest 'William Control' fan EVER !!!
XO
