Live Review: Grandson, Academy 2, Manchester 13/09/2023
With two albums and a collection of EPs under his belt, it was time for American-Canadian artist Grandson to make his way back across the pond. Bringing his unique blend of alternative, electronic and rap music back to the UK, he took the stage at Manchester’s Academy 2 and for the first time in years, will be passing around his own brand of peace, love, acceptance and justice.
Taking to the UK and European stages in promotion of his latest full-length I Love You, I'm Trying, he was supported by Scottish indie-pop act Swim School. A more than appropriate warm-up act for the evening, the trio brought the evening thrills, the melodic spills and the upbeat chills that made them the best introduction for the night. With the bubbly charisma of frontwoman Alice Johnson filling the hall, there wasn't a single person standing still in pure silence. The party was just starting, and Swim School was calm before the alternative storm that was to follow.
With the forest in the background, the lights bright and bold, this is the reintroduction to the one and only Grandson. Live and without risk.
Opening with newer tracks such as 'Two Along Their Way' and 'Something to Hide', Grandson - a project fronted by vocalist Jordan Benjamin - doesn't waste a lot of time bringing things back to the humble beginnings of the Modern Tragedy era. Right at Grandson's conception, he began releasing singles and tracks that would be brought into an EP series titled Modern Tragedy; these tracks would see Benjamin touching upon serious topics that were rocking his native of the United States and beyond. He reminds the crowd of this early time in his career with tracks such as '6:00' and 'Bury Me Face Down', which were some of the largest crowd-pleasers of the entire show. Possibly a pattern that will show from concert to concert, as many people were introduced to Grandson's unique take on alternative rock and electronic sounds through this time. The time before COVID-19 took over and brought almost all music to a grinding halt, both in production and live performance.
Asking throughout the night who was at their first Grandson show, who was at their second or third Grandson show, or who was at their very first show ever, the cheers showed just how patient his own fandom has been throughout the 2020s so far. With his debut record Death of an Optimist releasing at the start of the pandemic, and I Love You, I'm Trying finally coming out three years later, many of his fans (dubbed his "Grandkids") have been waiting all this time for any strum of a guitar of any scream of Benjamin's pained but powerful vocals. This night was worth that wait, and many if not all left that venue feeling fulfilled and satisfied, knowing they have been able to achieve what has not been possible since 2019. Going to a live Grandson gig.
There is a theme surrounding Benjamin's latest release under the Grandson moniker, and as a positively received record it deserves the time and the praise it has been given since its first single release. However, this night showed that Grandson will always be at his best when it comes to bringing back the Modern Tragedy soundtrack. From a medley of tracks 'Apologize' and 'Stick Up' and one of his very first releases, 2017's 'Best Friends', it was only a matter of time in that room - and everyone knew it - that what was arguably the biggest Grandson track was going to be played. It was the most well-known; the ultimate fan-favourite; maybe even the only song some fans knew as well as the back of their hands. This was the overly catchy, brilliantly upbeat hit 'Blood // Water'.
Closing off the night with no encore in sight, everyone left that night with this newfound or rejuvenated sense of unity, love, togetherness. All of the lessons that Benjamin preaches in his live shows and outside of them. All that he cares about, is what everyone radiates as the night draws to its natural close and everyone returns to their real life outside those front doors.
There will always be love and trust in a Grandson gig, and if even one person doesn't dare spread the message, they do not belong in that safe space. It's all love and trying, and it will never get better than that.
Words by Jo Cosgrove
Photography by Katie Probert
