Microwave and Boston Manor
Electric Ballroom // London, England // September 22nd, 2018
Photos and review by Rachael Dowd
Microwave
Microwave seems to be gaining more and more attention each time they tour. The Atlanta-based contemporary rock group put on a solid 12-song set to the London crowd, delivering brand new tracks like their latest single, “Keeping Up” and old favorites like “Vomit” and “Dull.” While their mid-tempo tracks make them very different from the other acts on the lineup, it was apparent that fans were just as excited to see them as they were for the other bands that night. Vocalist Nathan Hardy’s crystal clear vocals captivated everyone in the room, sounding nearly identical in quality to what is showcased on their recorded albums.
Their performance of “Whimper” was a particularly powerful moment in the set that really showed just how far the band has come. Reminiscent of Manchester Orchestra, “Whimper” showcased the intense energy and talent bassist Tyler Hill and drummer Timothy Pittard have to offer the band. With the crowd singing the contagious “ohs” weaved throughout the song, the performance was a group effort between Microwave and the crowd, showcasing the special relationship the Atlanta band have with their fans thousands of miles from home.
Microwave’s unique blend of rock and punk elements just goes to show why they are becoming more and more popular with each record they put out. Set to the tune of hard percussions and electric guitars, their music is relatable, their talent is blatantly obvious and, well, they are just so damn good to watch live.
Boston Manor
The first time I saw Boston Manor was in the stuffy, cramped Manchester venue Sound Control back in 2016. They were opening for Seaway and Knuckle Puck, had recently been signed to Pure Noise Records and were awaiting the release of their debut full length, Be Nothing, that was due out that fall. They were only really known in the UK and even though they were the opener that night for a crowd of a couple hundred, they put on a show that instantly made me aware that they were going to go somewhere within the punk scene.
Fast forward two years later, Boston Manor just released their second full-length, Welcome To The Neighbourhood, that was welcomed with warm praise and positive reviews from both fans and critics. Alongside the release, they’re now headlining their own gigs, their show in London this past weekend being their biggest headliner to date. Playing to a thousand of their biggest fans who packed Camden’s Electric Ballroom, it was inevitably clear why Boston Manor’s earning so much praise within the UK and around the world.
Opening their set with Welcome To The Neighbourhood’s title track and “Flowers in Your Dustbin,” the energy in the room and on the stage seemed to explode the second the first note kicked in. Even though the album has only been out for merely two weeks, fan sang along to every word, proving just how well received their second release has been since its debut.
While it was apparent that Boston Manor were eager to play new material off of Welcome To The Neighbourhood, they threw in a couple of old favorites from 2016’s Be Nothing including “Laika” and “Lead Feet.” The inclusion of older songs really allowed for everyone to hear just how much the band’s songwriting and overall musicianship has evolved, an aspect that many bands do not achieve by the time their second albums are released.
As an ode to how far the band has come, Henry Cox took some time out of the set to talk about how the boys once spontaneously booked a show in London and drove all the way down the M6 to play for only what seemed to be twenty people. The particular venue they had booked just so happened to be directly across the street from the Electric Ballroom, the thousand capacity venue Boston Manor had now sold out just a few years later.
Closing out the nostalgic anecdote, Cox thanked all of the fans who have supported Boston Manor over the years and they kicked it straight into “Trapped Nerve,” a single off of the band’s 2015 EP, Saudade. During the mere three minute song, the fans’ voices overpowered that of Cox’s, bringing more energy to that performance than any other during the night, helping to pay homage to the band that has come a long way since their Blackpool days.
From a crowd of twenty to a sea of a thousand people, Boston Manor’s hardwork over the past three years is hard to ignore. Reinventing themselves from pop punk boys to innovative rock musicians with Welcome To The Neighbourhood, Boston Manor’s new, unique and mature sound has elevated them to a whole new level of popularity in music. As their crowds continue to grow in size and their music continues to spread, there’s no doubt that their days of playing to twenty people are long gone.
