Live Review: The Amazons - O2 Academy, Manchester 08/10/2022
A month after the release of third record ‘How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me?’, The Amazons returned to Manchester Academy and treated their fans to a raucous selection of their arena-sized anthems.
In partnership with BBC Introducing, the rock quartet were supported by Manchester’s own The Deep Blue. The Deep Blue reminded me of Fleetwood Mac and First Aid Kit in their sound – their indie folk harmonies bore a stark contrast to the later harsh and crashing guitars of The Amazons. The audience were energised, nevertheless. The Deep Blue asked the crowd, ‘Who is excited for The Amazons?’, before proceeding to play tracks such as ‘Bad Tattoo and ‘He Said She Said’.
As The Amazons’ first-post pandemic headline tour, the band’s excitement for their return was matched in the cheers of the audience as they opened with title track ‘How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me?’. The new record is more heartfelt than its predecessors, with frontman Matt Thomson going on to describe performing to an audience again and the communal experience of live music as ‘the light at the end of the tunnel’. The tracks on the setlist were a shining example of this. ‘Northern Star’ was a beautiful, sincere love song that demanded the attention of the entire room, whereas ‘Say It Again’ and ‘One by One’ captured the acoustic-driven direction of the record.
The Amazons balanced this with the heavier, hard-hitting sounds of their most well-loved hits – fan favourites ‘Ultraviolet’ and ‘In My Mind’ being two examples. Admitting that ‘25’ was unrehearsed and added in last minute, Thomson and the band treated the audience to an electric performance laden with extended guitar riffs. The audience erupted in mosh pits, with ‘Doubt It’ and ‘Stay With Me’ sharing the same reaction.
The brilliance of this show was founded in its unpredictable, and special moments. After leaving the stage following ‘Mother’, The Amazons returned with acoustic instruments –important emphasis being on the harmonica – to play old track ‘Nightdriving’. For long-time lovers of The Amazons, this was an unforgettable experience. Thomson then went on to admit that ‘he couldn’t perform in Manchester without paying tribute to one of Manchester’s biggest bands’. After a few guesses between The Smiths and Oasis, it became clear when the band began a rendition of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. Just before the encore, the band moved on to ‘Junk Food Forever’. Being in the crowd for this performance was beautiful, as adoring fans graced each other’s shoulders and sang back to the band ‘I don't wanna be alone / Don't wanna be alone’.
As The Amazons returned to the stage, the anthemic ‘Bloodrush’ soon filled the room as the audience chanted its resounding choruses. Ending on ‘Black Magic’, the band ended the show on a high. With an extended solo, the crowd sang along to the riff as the crashing crescendos provided one last chance for fans to throw themselves into the pit.
The Amazons have established themselves as one of the best indie bands in the UK. Their show at Manchester Academy has proven that, even after a break from live performances, this band will continue to get better and better.
Words by Jess Foster
Photography by Maryleen Guevara
