Red Rum Club - HMV Manchester, England, 21st February 2024
Written by: Phoebe Bandcroft
Red Rum Club kicked off the eclectic evening with one of their most recent singles, "Godless," which resonated with the audience due to its familiarity. This song delves into the theme of losing hope in an almost dystopian manner, accompanied by an upbeat and drum-driven track.
The band's musical approach incorporates a wide range of techniques, from classical-sounding guitar riffs to trumpet phrases and funky jazz bass lines, even in an acoustic set. In my opinion, the groove of the band's songs remained intact, transitioning seamlessly from eclectic instruments to acoustic. New listeners could truly grasp the essence of their music.
Following this, the band played another familiar tune before delving into their new songs from the album "Western Approaches," set to be released on 23rd February 2024. They also sprinkled in popular releases from previous albums to maintain the energy within the audience. Lead singer Fran Doran danced throughout, encouraging the crowd to join in the fun.
Midway through their set, they performed a slow song, "Last Minute," providing a thoughtful contrast to the earlier high-energy performances. Fans swayed slowly and thoughtfully as Fran and lead guitarist Tom took center stage.
After this brief lull in energy, the full band gradually built it back up with a slightly faster song, "Houdini," followed by one of their most popular releases, "Eleanor."
In the interlude between this song and the next, Fran shared an anecdote about how many of their songs have girls' names and how they had attempted to write one without. However, they playfully admitted failure with their next song, titled "Daisy." This humorous moment resonated with both the audience and the subject of the song, who happened to be present.
Concluding the set, Red Rum Club played two more unreleased songs from "Western Approaches" before performing their hit tune, "Would You Rather Be Lonely." This song is filled with repetitive hooks and dancey riffs that kept the crowd hanging on every word and singing along with the band.
The show provided a fantastic snapshot of the band's sound, from slow, contemplative tunes to upbeat dance numbers, captivating the audience with every beat. It served as an excellent introduction to their newest album.