The now infamous Warehouse Project venue of Manchester has been a revolutionary event experience for the city since it launched in 2006. Held in a disused building underneath Piccadilly train station, these walls have seen many radical acts of the decade play here, such as Annie Mac, Skream, Aphex Twin and Nero’s first live show to name but a handful.
Tonight however, The Horrors headline an event they have curated here with very special guests The Kills also playing. Albeit, WHP is more suited to the ‘underground rave’ vibe of music with dance acts usually at the forefront- but don’t let that put you off. With its weaving brick walls, unusual entry methods (fancy getting lost in a black curtain, anyone?) and capacity to hold 1800 party-goers, this setting is just as perfect for live bands.
Playing after-dark sets (21:30-4:30), The Kills take to the stage at midnight, thrashing through a vast mix of tracks from each of their album, a wonderful rarity of late due to the extensive Blood Pressures tour. Tape Song- check, Black Balloon-check, Cheap and Cheerful- of course! Apart from the odd jibe about Alison Mosshart’s new rouge hue of hair (“The goth look is so last season, daaahling”), both Mosshart and wingman Jamie Hince are on top form. Cacophonous riffs don’t outshine eithers’ lyrics and at time, they take it down a notch to form an antithesis set and manage to pull it off amazingly. Hince is armed with the musicianship of a lifetime whilst Mosshart is full of swagger and the epitome of the perfect front woman. The duo wrap up their hour-long marathon set with a combination of Fuck The People/ Monkey 23 from their 2003 debut ‘Keep On Your Mean Side’, a wonderfully vintage goodbye from our favourite boy/girl combo.
After the mind-numbing success of their second album ‘Primary Colours’, The Horrors next effort ‘Skying’ has also been praised to the heavens by both critics and fans alike- needless to say expectations of tonight’s show are through the roof. Opening on an extended version of ‘Changing The Rain’, the set evocatively builds up, with beautiful keys, droaning guitars and Farris Badwan’s bewitchingly haunting vocals it feels like we are stuck in a 70s timewarp, seriously, watching 1800 people blissfully swaying in unison after one too many drinks can give that impression! Swooning their way through their hour long set, their choices for songs tonight was basically NOTHING off their 2007 debut ‘Strange House’, which was probably for the best as our favourite ‘boys in black’ have now bought psychedelia well and truly up to date. At 6ft5, Badwan towers over the crowd through a mist of smoke and neurotically dreamy lighting with all the essence of eccentricity a fontman should have. ‘Sea Within A sea’, ‘Still Life’ and ‘Monica Gems’ are amongst the beautifully executed set before ending the night on a ghostly rendition of ‘Moving Further Away’. Curated by the horrors; a feat for the eyes and the ears of Manchester- See you out on the road again soon boys!
