Since forming in 2011, Alvvays (pronounced always) have crafted a jangly, dream-pop aesthetic brimming with Greta Gerwig-esque charm which last year garnered critical acclaim on their sophomore LP ‘Antisocialites’. Antisocialites marked a clear improvement from their self-titled debut in terms of song writing and production value, with front woman Molly Rankin delivering a stunning performance throughout.
As I arrived the support band ‘Spinning Coin’ were already underway. Spinning Coin offered a stark contrast in voices between the 2 main vocalists on stage, with the abrasive vocals of Jack Mellin cutting across the more delicate tones of Sean Armstrong. This partnership offered an interesting dynamic to the Glaswegian outfit’s sound and I enjoyed the energy they brought to their set.
The headliners approached the stage to a swarm of pastel coloured patterns and static projected upon them before playing the opening track of their latest album ‘In Undertow’. The crowd responded with warm cheers as Kerri MacLellan’s arpeggiated synth draws the song to a close and Rankin remarked with a smile, “Do you know what I like about Manchester? It doesn’t matter if it’s a Monday night”. Alvvays continue to pull out hits, with “Plimsol Punks” and “Archie, Marry Me” following shortly after. One striking difference between watching the band live and listening to their records is how much more prominent Rankin’s vocals are. Almost as a trope of the genre her angelic voice merges with the shimmering instrumentation on their records, but live she truly was the focal point of the music. This was never more the case than half way through their set when the lights dimmed, and a spot light shone upon her for ‘Forget About Life’. The crowd sang every lyric back to Rankin as the thudding toms from Sheridan Riley started to deliver a pulsating rhythm building in a small crescendo. After a brief exodus from the stage for one of the most predictable and redundant encores I have ever witnessed, the band re-emerged to play ‘Party Police’. Throughout the show it was endearing how enamoured the band were with the sincere response they received from the crowd.
After watching Alvvays live, I must admit I am now a bigger fan. They have a charm and brilliance which you can’t fully appreciate from their exploits on record. If you are a fan, make sure you make effort to catch them live as it does breathe new life into their music.
9/10.
Jack Walker for Fuse FM.
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