Featured image and gallery: Georgina Hurdsfield
The crowd plunges into darkness as bdrmm take to the stage of a packed out New Century Hall. Opening with tracks from latest album I Don’t Know, ‘It’s Just A Bit Of Blood’ showcases Ryan Smith’s haunting vocals as their ethereal guitar sounds kicks in. Meanwhile ‘Be Careful’ highlights their jazz and ambient influences.
‘Is That What You Wanted to Hear?’ and ‘Push/Pull’ reach into their back catalogue, before closing with 2021’s ‘Port’ and its haunting outro, as the memorable line, “I don’t know about you, I’m sure you know about me,” rings out into the audience.
A video projects onto the curtain prior to DIIV’s appearance, promising the audience a night of unimagined wonder and a transformative, pivotal journey for those in attendance. Perhaps they’re going to indoctrinate us into a sci-fi cult?
Following this the members of DIIV make a casual entrance. Opening with a pair of tracks from their previous two albums, ‘Like Before You Were Born’ from Deceiver and ‘Under the Sun’ from Is the is Are, before showcasing ‘Brown Paper Bag’ from upcoming LP Frog in Boiling Water, set for release on May 24th.
‘Take Your Time’ transports the crowd back to 2016, the swells of the guitar forcing the fans into a head-bopping trance. It’s evident DIIV are exceptionally well-drilled, delivering each song with military precision. The band entwine songs past and present with ‘Soul-net’, ‘Air Conditioning’ and ‘Incarnate Devil’, captivating the crowd with every strum of the guitar.
The encore features ‘Horsehead’, ‘Doused’, and unreleased track ‘Raining on Your Pillow’, which is just as well received as the older tracks. ‘Doused’ is a magnetic way to end their performance, proving once again why each time they return, Manchester welcomes DIIV with open arms.
Featured image and gallery: Truck Festival For almost thirty years, set within the rolling fields of Hill Farm in Steventon, Oxfordshire, Truck Festival has been a cornerstone of the British festival calendar. Dubbed the ‘godfather of the UK’s small festival scene’, the festival continues to live up to that title, with a line-up packed with…
Featured image: American Football – American Football album artwork The debut album has long been treated as a baptism of fire for artists – the deciding factor that determines whether a band will ‘make it’ or not. Some debuts set the tone for what follows: Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m…
Featured image and gallery: Lucy Elson-Whittaker Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra come to the Palace Theatre in Manchester to celebrate the release of their new album, Night Blooms. Liverpool-based Brooke Combe opens the evening with a stripped-back set alongside her guitarist, her soulful vocals instantly captivating the crowd. Blending heartfelt performances with quick-witted…
Featured image and gallery: Sally Stretch Three decades after they first emerged in Manchester, Take That return home to the Etihad Stadium and deliver an unforgettable show, combining circus theatrics and crowd-pleasing hits from across their catalogue. Formed in 1990, the group have released multiple chart-topping albums and embarked on numerous world tours, including 2009’s…
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