On Friday night, indie five-piece Blossoms came to Manchester and performed a sold-out show at the Academy. Energetic and enthralling, the Stockport lads cemented their place in the hearts of everyone who managed to get themselves a ticket.
Their collection of break-up songs sound familiar, like a record you already own but have forgotten, drawing comparisons with Oasis and The Courteeners but with a chart-facing polish that’s reminiscent of The 1975.
Their eponymous debut album, which was released in August, took them to the top of the charts and Blossoms have now been named as one of the best guitar bands in the North of England. They were the only indie group to feature on the BBC Sound of 2016 list, (now largely made up of grime artists), and were praised by Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.
17-year-old, Declan McKenna was the support act and he managed to easily work the crowd into a sweat. The Hertfordshire-born singer and songwriter introduced himself after taking a quick sip of tea, following the aptly named first song, ‘Brew’: “I’m ill today”, he moans.
With throaty vocals and lyrics about corrupt governments, McKenna draws comparisons with a young Bob Dylan. His sheer energy in self-penned tracks ‘Paracetamol’ and ‘Isombrad’ proved exactly why he was awarded Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent in 2015. The performance was invigorating and cool, showing signs that McKenna could be a name to look out for in years to come.
Whilst the audience waited for the headliners, tracks from distinguished Madchester groups, (Stone Roses, Happy Mondays), amped up the excitement in the room and unleashed the first mosh-pit of the night.
This swiftly transitioned into a very different sound- Kanye West’s ‘Black Skinhead’, while Blossoms made their way on to the stage.
They launched into the fiery ‘At Most A Kiss’, a fast-paced piece of 80s pop with a heavy bass. Frontman, Tom Ogden’s lyrics are upbeat but completely meaningless. “She wedded her man; let’s elope to Japan,” he croons. We’re still trying to figure out what that means. Still, the audience doesn’t seem to mind. The beat is infectious- it gets people dancing, singing along word for word. The atmosphere is simply euphoric.
‘Texia’ plays soon after- a synth-pop track that recalls both New Order and Arctic Monkeys. With its contemporary alt-indie panache, it is undeniably different from the rest of the debut album. Its edge, for lack of a better word, confirmed why the band has been nominated for ‘Best Push’ at the MTV Music Awards 2016.
The band is remarkably grounded. Ogden chats regularly between songs, interacting with the crowd like they’re close friends or family. Asking if anyone had recently been dumped, he singles out a lad who’s closer to the stage. “What was her name? Sarah? F— YOU, SARAH!” shouts Ogden to rapturous cheers.
He then explores ‘My Favourite Room’, a song about his own break-up. Ogden’s vocals are stripped back and merge with delicate piano strokes- creating one of the most intimate moments of the night.
‘Across the Moor’ and ‘Misery’ are similar; ‘Smoke’s synth is transcendent and builds slowly, ending in a heavy instrumental climax.
Blossoms are able to effortlessly switch from calm, instrumental driven tracks to those that are more powerful, like ‘Getaway’. Its chugging rhythm and soaring chorus allows the band to take a backseat and the crowd to do the work, word for word.
The audience does the same for ‘Blow’, which becomes a hit a cappella. Drawing comparisons with Catfish and the Bottlemen, the song has a hugely uplifting chorus and booming bass.
A major highlight was Blossom’s cover of Oasis’s ‘Half The World Away” which morphed into Babybird’s ‘You’re Gorgeous’. It provided the ultimate breather in the mesmerising set. Ogden’s vocals were passionate and vulnerable, giving the songs a unique touch.
The set ends with the band’s most popular song, ‘Charlemagne’, which flung them into the limelight. It’s pretty much flawless. With its funk vibes, the track is catchy and cheerful, inciting a final crowd sing-along.
Blossoms have outstanding talent, they know their audience and how to please them, and that means they are only going to grow.