Live Review: Ben Howard - Aviva Studios, Manchester 21/10/2024
Ben Howard delivered a spellbinding set of sophomore record 'I Forget Where We Were' in Manchester's vast Aviva Studios. With flawless textures and rich tones, Ben and his talented band enveloped the attentive crowd with a wash of nostalgia, celebrating the album's 10th anniversary.
It was my first visit to Aviva Studios, Manchester’s latest cultural hub. With the warehouse capacity at 5000+, I was seriously impressed by the sheer scale and size of the venue; it was a surreal room to be in.
Opening the night was Yorkshire singer-songwriter Billie Marten, who delivered a beautifully intimate set, performing tracks from her last record, including ‘This Is How We Move’ and ‘I Can’t Get My Head Around You’. She even performed a brand new track she had written the week prior called ‘Crown’. Billie captivated the respectful crowd, delivering the perfect sweet introduction for the show to come.
An hour later, with the lights fully dimming to black, Ben and his band walked on stage, in a wash of ambient drone textures, hazy lighting, and rapturous applause. Ben was clearly enamoured by the audience exclaiming, ‘I wasn’t expecting so many people!’. Swiftly, Ben began the opening few ominous guitar notes of ‘End Of The Affair’. His signature heavily effected guitar tone reverberated around the cavernous venue, accompanied by the deep sub of the double bass. It was an incredibly detailed-sounding mix. Midway through the emotional track, the full rhythm section jumps in, with frenetic drum grooves, and the full AV light show begins. The stage is centred around a vast wooden tree sculpture, with a huge projection displaying a beautifully, almost ‘Tate Modern’-like visual for every track. It’s incredibly effective and helps you fall deeply into the spell that Ben and his band craft.
Following this dramatic intro, Ben smoothly transitioned into ‘She Treats Me Well’, one of my favourites from the record. With its laid-back drum groove and tasteful guitar textures, it’s a song that oozes class. Ben’s guitar playing and smooth vocal delivery were on top form during this track, with fast scalic virtuosic passages, whilst cello/vocalist India Bourne’s soaring harmonies sounded ethereal.
Another one of my highlights of the night was ‘Evergreen’, and Ben invited Billie Marten to return to the stage to sing. This track was another beautifully haunting performance, with rich ambient textures surrounding the folky guitar riff. Ben’s vocals were perfectly supported by Billie’s soothing tone. It was the perfect live collaboration and a seriously moving moment during the set. A stroke of genius was to perform the record out of sequence, keeping the audience on their toes and weaving fresh emotional layers into the tracks.
Another special moment was the solo acoustic performance of ‘Oats in the Water’ taken from ‘The Burgh Island’ EP. Despite technical guitar issues, this rare moment of intimacy during the show was a lovely contrast to the vast atmospheric textures of the full band. It was an emotional moment during the gig, highlighting the power of Ben’s songwriting, even with just a simple guitar accompaniment.
The encore featured several of Ben’s more recent songs, including ‘Days Of Lantana’, one of my favourites from his latest album ‘Is It?’. The melody is irresistibly catchy, and paired with the gentle drum machine groove, it becomes an infectious track. To close the night, Ben performed the title track, ‘I Forget Where We Were’. Despite grappling with a faulty guitar and forgetting some of the lyrics, Ben and his band still delivered a captivating rendition of this special song. In a way, it mirrors the personal struggles Ben has faced, including severe health challenges. Yet, despite these hurdles, Ben’s performance remains unwavering, and his music continues to mesmerise the masses.
Words by Euan Blackman
