Review and photos: Blossoms at Band on the Wall

The newly renovated Band on the Wall is the venue for Blossoms’ intimate fourth album release party. And for a band that played up to 20 times the capacity of the nearby AO Arena, those lucky enough to have secured a ticket for that night are giddy – anticipation fills the venue.

The promo ahead of this week’s album release hints at self-reflection, with introspective lyrics centering on a central character called “Mr Writer.” So…did Tom and company become Mid-90s Radiohead?

Any existential angst about the geopolitical state of our planet? Of course not. It’s Blooms. The 5 musicians chained themselves on stage with all the energy and enthusiasm that we expect.

Read more : Blossoms’ Tom Ogden on ‘impostor syndrome’ as band launches fourth album

Without hesitation, they jump straight into 3 crowd favourites. At most a kiss is a direct and crisp start. If you think this is real life has the crowd singing as Ogden finds his feet, cavorting around the stage. Cool like you from 2018’s number one album of the same name, completes the opening triplet, perhaps knowingly kicking things off with a track from each of their previous 3 albums.

“Hello, we’re Blossoms from Stockport,” Tom greets in his traditional way. Has a band ever worn their hometown so proudly on their sleeve?

While the land of hats, brick viaducts and glass pyramids is very much their home, their new material kicks off with more global themes. Ode to New York , is what it says on the tin. A yellow cab ride through Manhattan. Names of sites and sounds checked at high speed.

The title track of the album Ribbon around the bomb follows. A tight, upbeat track, realizing the sound that Blossoms has perfected. Low slung groovy bass, toe tapping, dancing heads, post disco, dancefloor friendly. Tom’s dreamy sled floating effortlessly above it all.

Ogden then takes a seat at the piano, and the band channels their inner Simon and Garfunkel with The sulky poet . All the handclaps and harmonies.

Reinforced tonight by 3 more members on guitar and percussion, the band is polished and as tight as ever. Guitarist Josh Dewhurst, sometimes seemingly in a world of his own, is arguably underrated in the pantheon of talented guitarists who have graced the streets of this city.

Myles Kellock on the keys sprinkling the magic that defines the band’s sound. And a rhythm section from Joe Donovan and Charlie Salt is bold, sharp and effortlessly cool.

There is no pretension here. The band, and its fans, know how to have a shameless fun. And so they should, a summer filled with stadium tours and high-profile festival slots rightly awaits them.

The second half of the set is perfectly balanced. With the stage bathed in light as pink as Ogden’s bold silk shirt, there’s an occasional cherubic innocence to his delivery. Slower numbers broken pianos , Cinerama Holy Days and Darling are sultry, channeling that very Mancunian trick of sounding both melancholic, yet hopeful.

In comparison, The Guardian and 2021 single To take care of are upbeat and crowd pleasers.

It’s a group that is very responsible for their profession and in particular the new songs fit perfectly into the whole.

As the night draws to a close, There’s a reason why becomes more of an anthem with each passing listen. While the heavy synth call and response Charlemagne is clearly a real fan favorite.

In an age of fast-paced consumption, where bands come and go as quickly as Spotify’s royalty payments, Blossoms can proudly point to a body of work that stands out in its own right. Four successful albums alone is impressive work.

Never mind Stockport, Greater Manchester should be very proud.

Setlist – Blossoms at Band on the Wall April 30, 2022

At most a kiss

If you think this is real life

I can not support it

Ode to New York

Ribbon around the bomb

The sulky poet

Oh no (I think I’m in love)

broken pianos

you girlfriend

Go

my swimming brain

Cinerama Holy Days

The Guardian

To take care of

all about you

Darling

There’s a reason why

Charlemagne

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