Humanity Hallows Issue 5 Out Now
Pick up your copy on campus or read online
By Verity Carson
Image: Larkins
Forget The 1975; Manchester may have just found its next biggest indie rock band in the name of Glossop born four piece Larkins.
The band consisting of Josh Noble (lead vocals and guitar), Dom Want (guitar and vocals), Henry Beach (bass and vocals) and Joe Scott (drums and vocals), performed at the small but intimate Manchester’s Gorilla, which marks an iconic step in the band becoming one of Manchester’s most one-to-watch acts. Their bold set list made this band a breath of fresh air, more so after being force fed the same old monotone bands that Manchester has produced in recent years, (coughs…Blossoms).
‘Velvet’, which was the opening track of the night, set the pace for the whole evening and cast any possible doubt of them potentially being upstaged by their support act and fellow Manchester band Corella. Although, it might be fair to say that Corella were overly-qualified to be a support act and will soon be headlining their own show.
It seems the Larkins have already built up quite the fan base. With the crowd reciting their songs word for word, the excitement in the room was electric. The two highlights of the night were the band’s most recent single ‘Hit and Run’, which bears a striking resemblance to Foals ‘My Number’, and ‘Sapphire’, which showcased frontman Josh Noble’s raw vocal range when performed unplugged during the encore.
The band didn’t just dominate the setlist with their own songs. Their ability to put their own twist on the cover of the Chaka Khan classic ‘Ain’t Nobody’, which had the whole venue singing with them, proved their diversity and talent. Josh Noble stated on many occasions how this was “the best night of their lives,” something that was evident from their stage presence. The occasional cheeky grin from the frontman showed that this gig was a turning point for the old college friends. Their stage presence and chemistry, which takes most bands years to master, is something that every band should envy and take note of.
From the genre of their music, it was quite surprising to see such a young teen crowd, which at times made it feel like a Justin Bieber concert rather than a gig hosted by a highly talented indie rock band. This can hardly be seen as a negative, however, considering Bieber has made a fortune off attracting a teen crowd. Although mainly teens, it was clear that the crowd was full of home support, with many proud family and friends looking on. They might soon be preparing for the camping life, as it seems it won’t be long before Larkins will be taking to the stage at a sell-out festival.
Been to a gig recently? Send your review to HumanityHallows.Editor@gmail.com
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