Seb Lowe/Villanelle/Alex Spencer - 12.04.2024 - Ritz, Manchester

Credit for this page goes to: John Gilman

Arriving at the ritz, the queue was a lot longer than ive seen for a long long time and partly for the first band, Villanelle (Gene Gallaghers band, son of that there Liam) For a band on so early in the night the venue was pretty packed by the time they sauntered on stage. Looking very Kurt Cobainesque Gene has the Gallagher swagger for sure. Hard to pinpoint there sound, i would say somewhere between Arctic monkeys and early NIrvana with a slice of angsty brit pop in there, solid tracks played very very well, this band have a very bright future for sure. They are so new there is very little of their music online but im sure that will change very soon too. For a band with so little music out there they definitely connected with the crowd, even if the odd shout of `play wonderwall` got a bit irritating by the end of the set. While details about their recording ventures may be limited, fans eagerly anticipate the release of their debut album or EP, eager to hear more of Gene’s musical offerings.

As they continue to hone their craft and refine their sound, Gene Gallagher and his band are poised to make a significant impact on the music scene, carrying on the legacy of their rock ‘n’ roll lineage while carving out their own path to success.

Next band up is Alex Spencer, 16 year old singer wongwriter from Droylsden, Manchester. Making waves with his debut EP `One step forward` it`s easy to very quickly forget how young he is, a stage prescence far far greater than his tender years, racing through five tracks from the EP and a handful of songs that will hopefully be included on his debut album which is something Alex is hoping to release in the next year or two, he has time on his side so look out for this kid, he`s got a lot of talent. Alex’s influences range from The Stone Roses, Pink Floyd, The Red Rum Club, Arcade Fire, Liam Gallagher and The Beatles. Making for a very interesting mixture.

By the time the lights go out for Seb Lowe the crowd are very well warmed up, `Manchester, let`s Ave it!!` shouts Seb before launching into `Kill Him He`s A Socialist` to a huge appreciative roar. I was asked to describe Seb Lowe and honestly the only thing i could think of is an angry Gerry Cinnamonn, he is that good! Merging seamlessly into `There she stood` and `I fell in love with a talking head` Seb has the crowd from the second he walked on stage, the band are all superbly on point, Kate (Violin) fun fact Kate played Violin on The K`s track `Icarus` from their debut album, Ben (guitar) Sam (Bass) and Joel (Drums) Seb is another youngster tbf 20 years old from the leafy suburbs of Oldham. New song `Jump scare` slotted in very nicely between the fan favourites of `Cavalryman` and `The Royal Family` Seb plays with a whirlwind of gusto complimented by smart lyrics and razor sharp social commentary the crowd word perfect on every track. With roots planted firmy in the local music scene, Seb has emerged as a beacon of talent, captivating audiences with his soulful vocals, intricate guitar work and magnetic stage presence. Drawing inspirartion from the eclectic sounds of his hometown and beyond. Seb`s music transcends genre, effortlessly weaving tohether elements of blues,rock,folk and indie to create a sound distinctly his own. As a testement to his dedication and passion, Seb continues to attract acclaim both locally and nationally, this angry young man is definitley going places. Finishing the gig with a storming trio of `Killer for a day`, `iphone` and the magnificent `Terms and Conditions` with its acerbic witty incisive lyrics. No encore but when the set is that good theres no need for the obligatory walk off and back on stage tonight its all about the music. Before tonight i hadn`t heard any Seb Lowe tracks, very very much a fan now. Seb was genuinely blown away by the love from the crowd, well deserved young un.

Set lists;

Villanelle;

Measly Means

Opportunity Arising

Natural Stereo

Lazy

Logos

Pretty One

Hinge

Alex Spencer;

A Night To Waste

Waiting For The Change