We’re nearing the end of possibly the warmest week of the year in Manchester as everyone makes their way into Academy 2. There are collective sighs of relief as we reach the cool venue, in a matter of hours this room shifts to a packed-out crowd that are dancing, singing and toe-tapping along to every word as we celebrate The Lemon Twigs new album and their eighth time in Manchester.
New York brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario (The Lemon Twigs) stopped off in Manchester for the final date of their UK & Ireland tour. The brothers are touring their new album ‘Look For Your Mind!’ a dreamy blend of 60’s pop bringing through those Beach Boys-style harmonies and sharp lyrical reflections on songs like ‘Bring You Down’ and ‘Fire and Gold’’. This is their sixth album in ten years, (in my opinion, their best album yet.) Particularly because this is the first time the touring members Reza Matin (drums), Danny Ayala (bass) and Eva Chambers of Tchotchke feature on the album. This makes hearing it live all the more exciting.
Support came from The Stones, a fellow New-York band that fuse rock n roll with what I can only describe as energetic fuzz. Blending raw, almost distorted, guitar riffs with energetic rhythms and a stage presence that instantly gets your toes-tapping and head-swaying. It’s not often you get treated to multiple harmonica solos that lead to joining the crowd off-stage. They truly utilise every instrument and every space possible to captivate the crowd.
The Lemon Twigs take to the stage and the crowd is in awe. The band brings in the newer tracks ‘2 or 3’ and ‘Bring You Down’, but it’s ‘I Just Can’t Get Over Losing You’ that takes the cake. They swap between instruments for ‘Anytime of Day’ and we build on that giddy energy for ‘In the Eyes of the Girl’.
As we’re making our way through the set list, it’s clear every element of this gig has been considered. As the band go for the encore, Brian returns and breaks into an acoustic performance of ‘Joy’ and ‘Corner of My Eye’. The crowd attunes to this shift in energy and you can almost hear a pin-drop.The full band start to wrap up the gig with a cover of Birmingham-band The Move ‘I Can Hear the Grass Grow’. This cover is a favourite of the bands, and it felt extra special for Manchester to hear it last night as this tour comes to a close.
This was a standout gig for The Lemon Twigs; a curated set list that showcases their ability to blend nostalgia with their own established sound. The new album is a treat to hear live and I can’t wait for them to return to Manchester again.
As this tour comes to an end, The Lemon Twigs will be embarking on a US tour in June, before touring across Europe, with festival spots at ‘The Most Beautiful Day’ and ‘Caravaca De La Cruz’.
