Live Review: Bad Omens - Manchester Academy 28/02/2023
Returning to the United Kingdom for the first time since 2018, Bad Omens proved themselves to be a powerhouse of the scene and created an unforgettable night at the O2 Ritz in Manchester.
Bad Omens opened their set with the track ‘CONCRETE JUNGLE’ from their latest album ‘THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND’, and the night very quickly promised to be one that would not only be unforgettable but would also be one full of energy.
Throwing it back with an older track of theirs from their 2016 album ‘Bad Omens’, ‘Glass Houses’ was met with so much excitement from their crowd. Bad Omens have a truly impressive fanbase behind them, and it’s so easy to see how appreciative the band are of their fans and the passion that they have for everything the band does and puts out.
It appeared like it would be impossible for the crowd to be even more energetic than they had been previously throughout the night, but ‘What It Cost’ that wasn’t the case. Many bands and artists may be able to say that they have some of the best crowds when it comes to performing live, it's safe to say that Bad Omens can proudly claim that is the case with their own. For a band who doesn’t visit the UK very often, they may have just discovered an undeniable reason for making visits more frequent – if Manchester was anything to go by, the remainder of the tour’s crowds may be just as magnificent.
Throughout the night, many spectacular pits were opened and added to the atmosphere of an evening that already had an insane energy level. If any sight could be described as living in the moment and leaving everything else in your life at the door for an evening, this would’ve been a perfect example of doing just that.
For those who may not be as familiar with the band, a song that you may have stumbled across on social media platforms such as TikTok due to its recent popularity on there made an appearance on the setlist. Not only did the song trend on TikTok, ‘Just Pretend’ has racked up an impressive 50, 146, 660 streams on Spotify.
The band ended their set with the tracks ‘Dethrone’ and ‘What do you want from me?’ and with them the night. Bad Omens have 6 shows remaining of their UK tour, including 3 shows at The Dome in London, and each show is guaranteed to be an incredible night – make sure you catch them on this tour while you still have time.
Words by Bethany Ellis
Photo credit - Bryan Kirks (provided by The Noise Cartel
