By Jack Walsh
The sun was setting on the final Saturday of October as I made my way into Manchester. Excitement built as I was about to witness The Amazons for the very first time tonight.
Beginning their journey in Reading back in 2014, the band quickly rose in the rankings with their debut, self-titled album, The Amazons, making number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and being named a band to listen to by NME, The Independent, and BBC Radio 1. Since then, the band have gone from strength to strength, releasing 3 more studio albums and a live album, the most recent being 21st Century Fiction this past May.
As I walked towards the Albert Hall, the crowd was already giant, filled with fans, new and old alike, waiting for the night to begin. Smiles were painted on all their faces. I asked one fan which song she was most looking forward to. “Black Magic,” she screamed. An excellent choice indeed. I made my way into the venue, one which I hadn’t been to since 2018, to start my night.
Balancing Act took to the stage with an immense cheer from the crowd. Slick dance from lead singer Kai Roberts, matched with a voice that echoed through The Albert Hall, showed this man was a force to be reckoned with. Backed by punchy riffs and a bass line that had you hooked, lined, and sinker, this opening dominated their set. Ready for round 2?
Captivating in the energy left from Balancing Act, Overpass burst onto the scene with full intentions of raising the bar. Did they succeed? Well, if the crowd was an indication of an answer, it was a yes. With non-stop movements synced to the beats of the drum, matched with hands raised and bodies moving, this band had the crowd well and truly in the palm of their hands. As I was writing, a fellow photographer told me to pay close attention to their final song, Beautiful, which became my favourite part from their set.
As the band left the stage, anticipation rose from the crowd. The Amazons were only a short time away from taking over the night. Chants began as the time ticked on, then the moment arrived – the lights went dark, the crowd screamed, and one by one, The Amazons took to the stage. Was I ready for the onslaught that was about to begin? Nope. Was I excited? 100%.
“I wrote this song in 2018, when I was 24,” lead singer Matthew Thomson shouted to the crowd before launching into their hit 25. A personal favourite from a crowd member next to me. “Manchester, let’s have the gig of our lives! Repeat after me: Hey Ho.” The crowd sucked in their breath and gave it their all. This only gave Matthew Thomson a huge boost of energy as he took to the floor to showcase his impeccable guitar skills. Even though I was quite far back at this point, writing my review, I could see all that clearly, and what a sight it was. Being in the crowd gave me a chance to see how others were enjoying their gig. Everywhere I looked, there were pocket pits filled with friends singing and dancing with each other, a nice moment to see.
“We’re going to take it down a touch.” Soft keys mixed with a beautiful duet from the lead singer and Ella McRobb began as Go All The Way silenced the crowd. We all watched as this duet began to grow bigger and bolder with each passing second. Once the drums and guitars entered the party, it was game over.
The pocket pits I was talking about stopped; we all just watched in awe as this anthem-like behemoth of a song continued to ring out throughout the Albert Hall.
“Still with us, Manchester?” A unified roar from the crowd surely answered that question. So, what’s next? How about a masterclass in drumming from Joe Emmett? Yes, please!
Wake Me Up closed off their set as the stage was filled with instrumental mayhem, everyone giving it their all in one final push to end the night on the highest note possible, and we still hadn’t reached the encore yet. Speaking of which, a solo from Matt kicked that off in style, showcasing both his lyrical and singing talents before the rest of the band joined, delivering four final songs before the final curtain call.
So, what song did they choose to end the night on? The one and only Black Magic.
A perfect song to end a great night.
Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Jack Walsh/ADRENALINE Magazine.
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