No*Tokyo Live Review @ 42nd Street (Manchester) - 28 Apr 2011
Photo: Stephen Campbell link
Live Review
I last ventured to Manchester's 42nd Street (now simply '42s') some seven years ago , when still in my (late) twenties. Even back then, I felt old in what was clearly a student domain and made a decision that there were plenty of other nightclubs in the city for people my age and moved on. Whilst I never ruled out a return to the place, I never really expected to end up back here. Four lads from North Manchester changed all that tonight. Not a lot has changed in the intervening years but I don't recall a queue stretching up the road and around the corner last time I was down this way. Something special is clearly occurring tonight.
No*Tokyo have been plugging away on the live scene for some time now. They have proved themselves to be an incendiary live force, full of intensity and passion. This night is, however, all about the launch of their debut E.P. Being very much a live band, No*Tokyo always test new songs in the live arena before entering the studio to record them. It is therefore no surprise at all that two of the opening three songs are brand new. 'All My All' already sounds entirely comfortable in the set, the brooding mood making it the perfect set opener, whilst 'Shadows & Strangers' ambles along, thoughtfully. Sandwiched in between is live favourite 'Flickering Lights', singer Daz Whittaker musing over which path to take, over a noodling guitar line.
The rest of the set is a delicious blast through the songs that make up the E.P. 'Renegade' is cheekily dedicated to Prince Harry, on the eve of his brother's wedding but is actually a seething rant at the state of popular culture. "We're not content to be the same" sings Whittaker and you can sense that he means it. Those present have clearly been listening to the record since its digital release some three weeks ago. Words are sung back at Whittaker throughout the bass heavy 'Ego Healer', the lead track on the E.P. Guitarist Ernie Robinson sets the dance groove of 'More Than You'll Ever Know', as the crowd turns into a heaving mass of rhythm. The nine minutes of '40 Skies' brings the set to a mesmerising close, Dale Baker's stoic drumbeat driving the song on and giving Robinson and bassist, Lee Graham the freedom to express themselves. The acclaim of the two hundred or so present is fully merited and the No*Tokyo E.P. can be declared well and truly launched.
No*Tokyo can no longer be considered as simply a live band. The scope and diversity of the E.P. has seen to that. However, to fully appreciate the majesty, the passion and the intensity of this band, there is no better way than to catch them on the live stage. Oh, and if anybody is interested, the moment the gig ended, I was out of the door. 42s remains for the young 'uns.
No*Tokyo E.P. is now available both digitally, through all major digital retailers and on CD via the band.
