Albert Hammond Jr Live Review @ Academy [1, 2, 3 and Club Academy] (Manchester) - 25 Nov 2006

Albert Hammond Jr Live Review @ Academy [1, 2, 3 and Club Academy] (Manchester) - 25 Nov 2006

 

Live Review

The Alabama born and New York based sisters boast a ranging accompanying band, helping them to produce a playful and eclectic set with an electro kick, coupled with a splash of the psychedelic and a country coating to one half of the vocals. The swooning ode of 'Go To Heaven', shows The Pierces at their quirky pop producing best, with the winding instrumentals helping to draw out the calming nature of the vocals for a restful mood to take over. Between songs the pair continues their playful nature, taking the opportunity to exchange bar-room banter with a high-spirited front section of the crowd. Homage is paid to Manchester in the style of a morose set ender reminiscent of The Smiths, indicating that this sibling outfit has more strings to their bow than William Tell.

The excitement at seeing a member of The Strokes in such a compact and sound enhancing venue, means that the reception given to Albert Hammond Jr as he cheerfully strides into view, must have made him think that he is flanked by Casablancas and co and not his own tight knit troupe. Harnessing the surroundings to full effect and impact, he plays his most powerful guitar part of the set and most emotive, note perfect vocal performance for the harmony propelled 70s country rock tinged 'In Transit'. This sets a vibrant mood early on and repetitive chants of his name give him added momentum to take into the achingly built up power pop sojourn of 'Bright Young Thing', this suits the main man's plaintive narrative style.

Previous single '101', possesses the qualities of The Strokes in the gritty instrumentals and dingy cries, meaning that you can't help thinking that the band's 4th album could recapture the power and pull of old and, this artist's contribution will, as always, not be a small one. As the set builds Hammond Jr's inability to pull off some of the vocal higher notes, like those in the slower 'Holiday' just gives off a few doubts regarding how far this solo project can actually go? However, a spirited and journeying indie/folk new number shows that the creative well is not down to its last cup, yet. After forty five minutes of an at times powerful and at other moments, wistful set that sees the normally fixated on his performance muso engaging in frivolous crowd banter, the evening ends in an unceremonious departure. Surely, he will not leave Manchester without playing the potent power ballad of previous single 'Everyone Gets A Star', will he? After a minute of expectation the house lights come on to signal an affirmative answer to that question. Still, the aim seems to have been achieved in this seed planting set. Albert Hammond Jr will be warmly welcomed back all the same, you sense.

David Adair

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