Sunday evenings are usually for slowing down and getting ready for the week ahead. However this particular Sunday, I found myself back at Portsmouth Guildhall to watch You Me At Six take the stage as part of their farewell ‘Final Nights Of Six’ tour. Along with support from Noisy and Boston Manor.
I arrived just after doors to catch most of Noisy, a trio formed just down the road in Worthing and have a sound that goes well with their name. It’s hard to describe their sound as it’s so unique but it’s like someone’s placed intricate guitar, jungle rhythm, and hip-hop lyrics into a bowl, and the result would be this band!
When I saw Boston Manor were only supporting on a few dates, I knew I had to get to this one! Having seen them a few years back supporting Alexisonfire, they have since released their fifth studio album ‘Sundiver’ and have grown so much as a band since.
Opening their set with one of the lead songs from that album, ‘Container’, the Blackpool lads meant business from the very first chord. Having only released their debut album in 2016, they command the stage and demonstrate just why they were asked to join this tour. The whole set was extremely tight and the band had experience beyond their years. Ending their set with one of my favourites ‘Foxglove’, the few moments of the concert are pure euphoria for the crowd who have been hooked throughout.
I remember the first time I saw You Me At Six live back in 2008 at the Wedgewood Rooms. They’ve been a band who I grew up with and a lot of their albums have memories linked to different eras of my life.
So when they announced last year that in 2025, the band would be ending, it came as a shock to me and so many other fans across the globe. I still don’t think I’m emotionally ready to say goodbye to this band but this evening was a perfect way to start that process.
The whole venue was packed with both standing and seated being sold out. Twenty years is a huge allotment of time for the devoted, this band means so much to so many here including myself and you couldn’t help but feel the emotion building in the room.
The initial three songs, “Room To Breathe,” ‘Loverboy’ and ‘Stay With Me’ set the stage flawlessly for the nearly two-hour set full of career-defining essential songs and fan favourites. By the time it came ‘Save it for the Bedroom’, the crowd had warmed up their vocals and accepted the invitation from Josh to start crowd surfing. I could see from the back, a mix of fans’ hands and feet flailing forward towards the barrier and those brave enough were rewarded with handshakes and high-fives from Josh.
The mood then changes slightly as most of the band walks off stage except for Josh and guitarist Max, where we are told the beginning of how the band were formed and how close they all are, not only as bandmates but as family. We were then treated to a stunning acoustic version of ‘Liquid Confidence’ followed by the beautiful ‘Take On The World’, a song that means so much to so many, including myself. As I took a moment to look around, I could see every single person enjoying this song differently. Some hugging each other, others slow dancing, and a few people who were just so filled with emotion that they had tears down their faces whilst passionately singing every single word.
The whole evening was one of the best performances I’ve seen from any band, let along a band who have been going for 20 years and make it look easy and a joy to be a part of. This was the perfect way to say goodbye to those loyal fans, new and old, as well as showcase why they are pop punk royalty. Whatever their next adventure entails, you know that these moments will stay with them forever.
