Gig Review: The Virginmarys / Dig Lazarus / DandelionJames – Academy 3, Manchester (16th October 2021)

“MANCHESTER!” The Virginmarys’ Ally Dickaty bellows two songs into their incendiary performance, sweat flowing freely from him, Danny Dolan and the assembled audience. It may have been almost two years since the band last played here, on their last tour, but as a running theme of the night, it’s as if it was only six months ago. Then again, we were on the final night of a two-week tour and they have a wonderful habit of playing better and harder as their tours progress and it was immediately obvious they were going to leave it all on the stage for their last night.

But I’m getting a touch ahead of myself. Downsizing from a power trio to a power duo earlier this year with new material in their arsenal and seeing people I haven’t in such a long time, this was always going to be a special night. Unfortunately, no Scottish dates on this tour (they make their long overdue return to Scotland in a few short weeks to their beloved Glasgow, at the Barrowlands to support Gun) meant another welcome trip to the south but it’s one I always relish and it’s not long before I’m in Macclesfield for the party bus with Rachel, Garry, Joe, Andy, Jill, Simon, Daniel and Trackside’s own Stu Bailey. We’re missing a couple of faces in the shape of Sam and Glen but for the most part – the gang’s all back together.

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Before The Virginmarys take to the stage to ply their wares and show off their new incarnation, it’s off to grab the new t-shirts and a quick catch-up with one-man roadcrew, Azda (seriously, this is the superhero Marvel needs to give a film to) and settle in for opening act DandelionJames. As another Macclesfield-based artist, the four-piece make the most of their short set, rattling through as many tracks as possible, stopping only to thank the crowd. As they start strong, they simply get better as the set progresses, nicely warming the crowd up and earning louder applause and cheers with every number. Soothing soundscapes are light and airy as blues and Americana are washed in pop tones. Stylistically, it’s not in the same realm as tonight’s headliners but it works. The band are tight and polished and you can feel them all working as one unit, intent on leaving a mark on the night and in the minds of everyone already assembled. And it would appear after the show, it worked.

Dig Lazarus try to bring the party for the final night as main support on the tour. Having endured them once before, I was already prepared and the parallels are obvious before the first song finishes. As vocals from Ash Tustain (playing double duty with guitar as well) start off muddy, once they’re higher in the mix, it doesn’t improve the set any. Much like their predecessors, they make the most of their short time but all the songs run together because they all sound pretty much the same – the most interesting part of their set was when I saw my watch was at the wrong date so I fixed the error. Whilst the attempt at hard-charging power rock is a great fit for a Virginmarys show, that’s where the similarities end. There’s no chemistry between the trio as they each play their individual parts but not as a unit. It’s music and a performance which lacks soul, passion and substance, and is more synthetic than an X Factor “winner”.

Tustain continues to focus more on posing with his guitar than the performance itself (when he’s not ripping off the riff from Guns N’ Roses’ “Nightrain”) whilst bassist Atticus Hall-McNair similarly joins in but in a far more good-humoured hammed-up fashion but it doesn’t off-set his sloppy bass work – Duff McKagan/Flea/Ross Massey he is not. Then, there’s drummer Jack Cotterill. Still, he continues to be the best part of the band, a machine on the kit and is frankly wasted in a band like this. The final nail in the coffin comes from the very obviously scripted love and thanks given to The Virginmarys and even that lacks authenticity. Essentially, it’s a band, music and performance which is the antithesis of tonight’s headliners.

The tension builds as Azda gets everything perfect (like he always does) and the greatest song ever written starts as the entire room sings “Bohemian Rhapsody”. And just as we’re getting our Wayne’s World on: it’s time. Headbanging is replaced with the Rocky theme and as Ally mentions later in the set, it’s incredibly fitting. The Virginmarys take to the stage with a quiet confidence and humility, backed by the roars of assembled fans, before kicking the evening off with groove-laden new number “Meds”. Despite the unfamiliarity, as soon as the chorus kicks in, we’re all bouncing like we’ve known the song for years and for so many, it’s like the past two years have never happened before they go into one of their oldest songs in “Portrait of Red” and the juxtaposition isn’t lost on us.

They pepper in a healthy dose of new tracks like the harrowing yet relatable “Where Are You Now?”, “NYC” (a song Ally dedicates to “The second-greatest city in the world” – no prizes for first) and the funky “Devil Keeps Coming”. “Killer” makes a return after debuting on the 2019 tour and sounds even bigger and more dangerous than before. Then, there’s personal highlight of the new material, “Lies Lies Lies”. It’s a ridiculously massive straight-up rocker, exuding raw power and displays the chemistry between Ally and Danny in full flow with hints of punk tones in its opening riff before the song explodes into the chorus. I’m rendered slack-jawed and it takes me back to being 15 and hearing them for the first time.

Elsewhere, a healthy number of old favourites have us singing every word in “Dead Man’s Shoes”, “Lost Weekend”, “Running For My Life”, “Into Dust”, “Motherless Land”, “Sweet Loretta” and “Look Out For My Brother”. Despite the loss of bass, the songs still have a meaty rhythm to them as they’re subtly re-worked to accommodate the new format, bringing a fresh twist to the songs we’ve loved for so long. They sound bigger and bolder than ever before and it’s a quality which transfers over to the band themselves, more comfortable in their skin than they’ve ever been with a bigger stage presence.

Meanwhile, the new material slots in effortlessly, doing what the duo have always done – pushing forward their inimitable sound whilst still sounding like The Virginmarys. Ally continues to sing and scream every note, pushing his throaty vocals to their limit, as passionate as ever, tying in with his blues-tipped licks and seared with a punk tone. Gone is his trusty Les Paul to be exchanged for a Guild Jetstar and the characteristic chunky tone of their music is replaced by one which is smoother but far fatter. Danny continues to smash his drums as if they’ve done him a personal grievance but laced with the finesse of experience. His own weapon of choice has been upgraded to a bigger set of drums and a new addition in the shape of a ship’s bell but there’s still far less of a kit than most other drummers because he doesn’t need it.

But tonight isn’t about the pair as individuals as their chemistry, ever-present, is off the charts; the several years of friendship and brotherhood between them laid bare on stage. Whilst you can never accuse them of giving anything but their all on any night but with this, the last night, they push it that little bit harder. As “Off to Another Land” signals the end, several of us scream “Ten more songs!” Venue curfews and bus departure times allow for two with Ally taking us through a stripped-back “Northern Sun” on his Jetstar before Danny rejoins the fray for the victory lap of “Bang Bang Bang”. The crowd and the band alike give everything they have left on this one, singing and bouncing with every last bit of energy we can muster for the stunning crescendo.

Like every Virginmarys gig, it’s nothing short of stellar and as always, the band and audience act as one complete organism. The friends and family we make along the way is truly what elevates their performances – no fan is bigger or better than the next one and it’s all about the sense of community, regardless of the town you’re watching them in. As we reach the end of the first page of their latest chapter, there’s a sense in the air during the exchange of sweaty goodbyes that it’s going to be their best yet.

The Virginmarys: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | youtube | store

Dig Lazarus: officialfacebooktwitter | instagram | youtube

DandelionJames: facebook | instagram | youtube

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September 23, 2024 3:35 PM

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