“We do things differently here” is the much-quoted adage Tony Wilson may or may not have said about Manchester.
As much of Manchester is hurtles towards a London-lite vibe, the quote’s efficacy may be debated but the city’s musical heritage is unmatched and the live music culture is deep-rooted in the city. This evening, Leeds’ English Teacher are in town, joined by a cohort of Manchester’s finest up and comers.
We kick off with Westside Cowboy, an emerging Mancunion prospect blasting out a fervent mix of indie, country, 90s slacker noise rock they’ve labelled ‘Britainicana’. They rattle through a short set, with a highlight coming in the form of debut single ‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)’, as well as a handful of other tunes ranging from Pixies-esque noise to melancholic Americana. They’re one to watch for sure, with big things on the horizon for the newly signed Nice Swan band.
Next up is TTSSFU, who are real rising stars in the Manchester scene. Also recently signed (this time to industry big boys, Partisan Records), the band play a heady brand of distorted dreampop. Enigmatic frontwoman Tasmin Stephens (last spotted commanding the pit at Amyl And The Sniffers’ recent show at Manchester Academy) cradles her heart-shaped Daisy Rock guitar as she propels wave after wave of fuzzy shoegaze to the growing crowd. They rattle through established numbers like ‘Studio 54’ and ‘I Hope You Die’ as well as a brilliant collection of sufficiently noisy new cuts.
The main event are up next and English Teacher bask in the glow of their sold-out crowd. They tear straight into ‘R&B’, their breakthrough single which made a reappearance on the debut record, This Could Be Texas. Before the band can say much as a hello, someone towards the front screams something along the lines of “MERCURY PRIZE YEEEAHH!’ which multi-instrumentalist frontwoman Lilly Fontaine counters with a nonchalant “Yeah, it’s mad innit…”. The band are seemingly unphased by their success, managing to keep a cool rock n roll face on the recent accolade.
The opening act of the set is made up of new album numbers, before a triple play of tunes from their Polyawkward EP. English Teacher weave heartfelt songs of high emotion and swirling synth with the industrial breakdowns from earlier work with a deft touch. There are no qualms about their status as one of the best British bands right now, and to watch ET on stage is a sight to behold.
The atmosphere is joyous, with the packed-out Ritz in near silent reverie for the softer tunes like ‘Mastermind Specialism’ and ‘You Blister My Paint, while the more boisterous numbers are belted out in full voice. The Speedy Wunderground-released ‘Song About Love’ is a real highlight, as is the driving ‘Nearly Daffodils’. The band alternate from filling champagne flutes to swigging straight from the bottle (this tour is – after all – a celebration of their recent achievements).
Fontaine pauses and remembers her first time in the venue: as a teenager, she spent hours queuing at the gate to ensure a barrier spot for The Kooks. She explains how much it meant to her to witness a gig like that, at that age, in this space – around the room, there are similar scenes with young women and girls staking out spots down the front. It is certain that Fontaine and English Teacher are replicating this exact experience for their young fans.
She dons the oversized Frank Sidebottom-style head (as featured in ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ video) for their final number, ‘Albert Road’ and gesticulates wildly as the band play out the cut. Lewis Whiting throws his sky-blue Fender Jag to the floor in a wall of squealing feedback as the triumphant quartet exits the stage. They return for a rendition of ‘Good Grief’, before making their exit.
To be present at an English Teacher show right now is to catch one of the best live acts in the country on an incredible rise, and each member shines as they create beautiful and emotive soundscapes this evening. They may have already clinched the Mercury Prize, but it feels like English Teacher are just getting started.
Revisit our Q&A with English Teacher here
Featured image: Harry Isherwood
