The Vaccines Manchester Academy 09.04.2018

The Vaccines

Manchester Academy

09.04.2018

 

The last time I seen this 'London' based 'Post Punk' band was with 'White Lies' at 'Xfm Winter Wonderland ' way back in '2013',I met them again in '2015' at their HMV appearance and was due to catch them on Tour in 'Blackpool' til they changed all the dates I was too busy and had to cancel.

 

So now 3 years later they are back with a new album 'Combat Sports' and it is what I feel should have been the follow up to the 2nd album, Tonight's show is sold out and a couple of us are gathering ready to enjoy the show , we'll get back to that later .

 

 

Doors open at 7pm and we are let in , it seems like the Academy forgot to switch the lights on near the stage as I'm going forward to the barrier its hard to see straight.

 

 

The support band is another London band but mainly all girls called 'Dream Wife' I liked their attitude, the lead singer with a degree in delivery of songs lyrics akin to early 'Blondie','Black Honey' and 'Hole' straight out of the Feminist handbook #FemRock is back !!

 

 

They are feisty and in your face, their sound is Punchy, Energetic, Tribal in terms of they will attract a huge following , dressed in Red leather dungarees and trainers, she addresses the crowd confidently "This one is for all you Bad Ass Manchester Bitches", well I loved that it gave more than a nod to 'Madonna' I think she'd love these guys a lot if she had seen them should the right contacts be in the room.

 

 

The crowd were into it if a little timid at the start, and they were relevant tonight it was like fate as I could relate more than ever to their vibe ..more on that later.

 

 

9pm and curtain down, a glimmering Disco Ball is suspended waiting as the lights go down and 'Arnie', 'Justin', and 'Freddie' and 2 new younger members ('Pete' left his position on drums recently).

 

 

The crowd are poised for excitement, 'Justin' looking like he's on Holiday, not a gig with his shades on and a shirt and trousers combo that a Oxford Or Cambridge Student would envy, a hit with the girls shall we say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning with new track 'Nightclub' and following it up with 'Wrecking Bar' was just the thing to kick the crowd kick up as they came to life singing every single word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up from 'English Graffiti' my fav 'Dream Lover', still sounds great now,with 'Justin' looking confident as a cheeky chap winking at the girls, and playing his trademark Cherry Red Guitar leading us on to 'Handsome' later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Justin' and 'Freddie' have got the crowd in the palm of their hands as they rachet up the excitement another notch with hit single 'Wetsuit'  from 'What Did You Expect From .. with the crowd participating with the lyrics again it was a great atmosphere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every album was considered for the setlist on this tour it pleased everyone from  their fresher young new audience to the more hardcore fans wanting to jump up and down , and so 'Post Break Up Sex' and 'Norgaard' from the debut album were a must in the set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equally the 2nd album Hit 'I Always Knew' was another crowd pleaser and they brought the house down with 'If You Wanna', the encore was equally a power driven set, with 'No Hope',and finishing with my fav track 'All In White'.

 

They seemed to be impressed with the crowd response ,great gig all round in fact I'd go as far to say I think this is 'The Vaccines' best performance ever,everything came together on stage with the crowd the atmosphere Magnifico !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After such a great show of the very many I've attended over the years it makes me annoyed to have to report this didn't go without incident.

 

 A few of us girls were chatting outside waiting excited when some lad strolled up from nowhere we didnt even see him appear, I wasn't sure if he was there for the gig as he looked smartly dressed, so I asked and was stunned and immediately struck by his nasty attitude he was trying to knock my confidence by saying I didn't look like I belonged there I "should've made more of an effort" (possibly as I chose to wear trousers so I wasn't feminine enough).

 

 

What happened next to my fellow giggers chilled me I never thought I would witness intimidation and sexual harrassment in broad daylight we managed to get him to go away but it was a shock so much so that we reported it the security of the venue and the police, it was unnerving but I'm used to aggressive people in my life I have a shield in life, I talk back to bullys.

 

There was another couple present who picked up on our conversation and related straight away to our description and behaviour of him and that he'd tried to harass this guys girlfriend but as he was there watching so he went away, he was drunk apparently he didn't look drunk ,I thought he may be on drugs but he wasn't swaying about.

 

 

 Anyway moral to this is Don't let anyone make feel you are not worthy and treat you like a piece of shit ,Words are powerful to bullies go with your gut instinct but keep yourselve's safe you wont go wrong ,everyone should be how they want to be, and look how they want to look and not be judged without all this bullshit... Whatever Man or Woman or those in between as 'Brian Molko' once quoted !!! 

 

 

Be Cool Giggers!!! 

 

Lmi xo