Displaying that distinct Manc swagger which oozes confidence, frontman Daz Whittaker sets about owning the small stage through his infectious personality and sheer enthusiasm that provide a focal point for the epic wall of noise behind him. This confidence is all the more justified through the sheer scale of the sound which is a heady mix of swirling psychedelia reminiscent of The Verve and beat-driven sing alongs in the vein of The Music at their most intense. It is this combination that makes them such a powerful act on the live stage and one which effortlessly gets the crowd swaggering along to the likes of 'More Than You'll Ever Know' with staggering passion and warmth.

 

For 40-odd minutes they roll out one anthemic singalong after another which are tailor-made for the big stage and for this city with their local influences shining through and making them sound even brighter. It is a shame that the type of passionate music they produce is being ignored within the so-called trend-setting culture and as such they are still slogging away looking for that elusive break which will take their ambition even further.


With a loyal following giving them great support throughout, it is a joy to see such enthusiasm from both band and crowd alike which make the performance even more memorable and further proof that this is a band that could have a major impact given the right support. With future support slots lined up with Exit Calm and the potential to recruit some new followers along the way, their talent deserves to be witnessed on a much larger scale and as one punter exclaims "We have a band on our hands!", it is a statement that more people will hopefully take notice of.

 

[Source] ManchesterMusic.co.uk

 

There is something about packed out gigs in small, intimate and sweaty venues that engender a sense of camaraderie and togetherness. Unlike an arena gig, there is no opportunity to move to a place with greater space, when from stage to rear wall comprises a heaving mass of bodies.

 

So is the case tonight, as Moho Live welcomes back The Sunshine Underground, out on the road promoting second album, Nobody's Coming To save You, released back in February. This gig was rearranged from earlier in the month when lead singer, Craig Wellington had a bout of laryngitis. This seems to add to the air of anticipation and the fans are in early, thus ensuring a sizeable crowd for tonight's support bands to play to.

 

Next up are north Manchester's No*Tokyo . This band are certainly no strangers to the big stage at Moho Live and appear comfortable in front of the large crowd present tonight. Singer, Daz Whittaker, prowls the stage with menace before spending almost as much time on the barrier as the stage in his attempt to engage with the fans of the headline act. It works and they certainly gain some new fans here. More Than You'll Ever Know has Moho Live dancing like it's Madchester circa 1989, whilst set closer 40 Skies is eight minutes of sky-scraping, space rock.

 

[Source] GuestlistMusic.com