8th July, Manchester UK

Intimate shows are one of the best places to be in the live music industry - not only do you get to be up close and personal with your favourite bands, but you get to experience an atmosphere like no other. When California hardcore outfit Stick To Your Guns announced that they would be coming to Manchester’s Deaf Institute, there was only ever one outcome and that was me attending that show. They are such a high energy band and within such a small space, this was set to be something special.

Celebrating the release of their recent record ‘Keep Planting Flowers’ in January, they’ve hit the road across the year taking what I’d say is their best record to venues and festivals including huge appearances at Hellfest in France & Graspop in Belgium, now they bring the action to the UK as they hit the stage in some of the best intimate and best venues the country has to offer with two incredible support bands to get the party started.

Kicking us off tonight was one of London’s best rising Hardcore band, False Reality. They are quickly building their own empire around their fierce sound and I’m all for the hype around them. They are a band who know how to work a room and it didn’t take long for the space in front of the stage to be called into action with a few two steppers ready to get moving. With a busy summer already underway with more to come, it’s safe to say they are ready to take things to the next level. Big hitter songs like ‘Cranium’, ‘Pressure’ and the incredible ‘Opposites React’ got the reaction they rightly deserved with some members of the crowd doing what they can to get the place moving. We were also treated to a brand new song ‘Snake Eyes’ that sounds absolutely huge that I for one can’t wait to hear again. When you watch sets like this you see just how strong the UK Hardcore scene is and new bands like False Reality are showing the way that the future of the scene is in safe hands.

Next it’s a new band for me but one who certainly left a solid impression after only one show in the form of Love Letter. The set had a bit of a twist, the whole band take to the stage, well everyone except singer Quinn Murphy who set up camp in front of the stage in the crowd who he asks to get closer and make him feel as uncomfortable as possible - it could have been due to space, it could have been to be different but whatever the reason it added to the experience and atmosphere in the room.

With the poetic political setting us off, the energy quickly kicked in with Quinn made use of his limited space as he leaps about at any given moment he has. The crowd are locked in from the get go engrossed with their political statements and New England hardcore. The vibe never dips at all during the set, the bands sound has such a solid mix you never really know what direction it’ll take - from crushing distorted riffs delivered at a neck breaking pace to their own take on a sound that gives a perfect nod to melodic hardcore. It was gripping set that shows the power the band has.

Having just seen tonight’s headliners a few weeks ago in the larger surroundings of Hellfest in France, it was nice to get up close and personal with Stick To Your Guns in such a small enclosed space. The band waste absolutely no time between setting up their stage to firing the crowd into a frenzy as they kick off with ‘Nobody’ straight into ‘Invisible Rain’. You can already feel the heat and sweat set in straight away, the stage divers and moshers are straight into action from the off keeping the fans leaning on the stage on their toes.

When this show got announced, the excitement for such a well known name to be playing such a small enclosed space was huge and it has certainly lived up to every expectation imaginable - the energy was beyond anything I’ve seen from a club sized show and it is such a pleasure to be stood (in the safe space of the balcony area) watching over the chaos as people loose their minds to one the best and most exciting bands around. There is so much raw emotion from the band, Jesse Barnett on vocals rips through the room with in your face screams and roars - the ferocity is felt by the crowd as they react in typical STYG gig fashion screaming everything back.

Despite having no bassist on stage, the band delivered a razor sharp show producing a setlist that was chosen down to perfection - crowd favourites like ‘Amber’ and ‘We Still Believe’ went down a treat whereas tunes like ‘Empty Heads’ brought out the heavier beatdown side to the band - looking into the crowd who are dripping in sweat as they hold nothing back, the moshing, twostepping and spin kicking never really halt at any point. More stand outs through the night came in the form of ‘Married To The Noise’ and the set closer ‘Against Them All’.

The band just cruise through the set with ease taking out every inch of the floor in their path. The Californians have been doing this since 2003 and make it look effortless, their commitment to deliver high end live shows and incredible music is exactly why they are so loved the way they are. The passion from the band after all these years is matched equally by the fans who stream through the venue doors and loose their minds for over an hour like it’s only them and the music in the whole world. Like I said when talking about tonight’s opening act False Reality, the state of the hardcore scene is certainly in good hands whether you’re new to the scene or you’ve been ripping up rooms for 20 plus years.

Tonight’s show was a perfect representation that the togetherness and love for the live music scene is pretty special and it’s an energetic show that will live in my memory for a long time to come.

Stick To Your Guns Bring The Heat To A Sweaty Night In Manchester

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Stick To Your Guns Bring The Heat To A Sweaty Night In Manchester

The Historic Farewell Tour: A Rocking Bittersweet Transition for Foreigner

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