Westside Cowboy @ New Century Hall – making Manchester music history
Featured image: Clémentine Schneidermann
Hot on of the heels of their highly anticipated debut album, Westside Cowboy arrive in Manchester with a rapidly growing, fiercely local fanbase in tow. Chants of ‘WEST SIDE COW BOY’, referencing the bands hit, ‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)’, rings out as the band make their mark in Manchester’s deep, ever-growing musical heritage. Just as the Sex Pistols’ show at The Lesser Free Trade Hall became a defining moment for punk, leaving generations of musicians claiming to have been in attendance, Westside Cowboy capture that same sense of possibility 50 years on.
The stage is arranged in an intimate, in-the-round setting, giving everyone a clear view and making the show feel more like a rehearsal room shared by the four than a sold-out 1,300 capacity performance.
The space is decorated with niche paraphernalia synonymous with the band and its fans, including CDs by The Ramones, Sufjan Stevens, a copy of So Young Magazine, and even a Westside Cowboy-themed bottle of Buckfast. Guitarist and Vocalist Reuben Haycocks informs us that “it’s a day full of firsts for us today”, prompting a chorus of cheers, before adding, “so please be patient”.
The 18-strong set showcases their debut album alongside the tracks that have earned them their well-deserved notoriety. They kick things off with lead single ‘Kick Stones (The Boys)’, reminding us of the impending sand timer that is growing up.
With a set fuelled by passion and swagger, the band move effortlessly through a set built on a passion for their art and the tireless hard work behind their rise. They play with almost telepathic synchrony, powering through two broken guitar strings and multiple snapped sticks. Playful heckling from drummer Paddy Murphy adds to the atmosphere as he teases guitarist and vocalist Jimmy Bradbury while he adjusts his tuning pegs: “Is this one in drop-D?” The band then burst into cult-classic ‘Don’t Throw Rocks’.
A change in pace comes in the form of a duet from bassist and vocalist, Aoife Anson O’Connell and Haycocks. ‘Shells’ offers a moment of solitude from the ever cool ‘Britanicana’ sound that the band are known for and shares an emotive, intimate moment for the crowd to sit and reflect on the every-steady and well-deserved success of the Manchester quartet. This is followed by a soulful, Jeff Buckley-esque moment from Haycocks as he performs the slow ballad of ‘Take My Leaving As I Love You’. The remaining members take a moment to look around the scarlet-lit hall, absorbing what their endless hard work and craft has brought them.
Westside Cowboy’s Debut Album It Goes On is available in record stores, online or via the band’s website here.
