//Gig Review\\ Violet Club/BLVCKTOXXINE/Morris and The Dancers- Fuel Cafe Bar-13.10.2023

They always say that the first impression is the most key to anything, whether it’s a job interview, a first date or simply meeting new people, it can be the beginning of everything.

On a cool evening in Withington, at local independent music venue Fuel Café, Lisztomania Events made an enthusiastic and exciting first impression that showed excellent potential for an enthusiastic and brilliant future with their first-ever gig featuring energetic and intriguing performances from three bands, different in style but united by both a love for performing and the music they create.

With the stage set and people slowly taking their places in the crowd, it was time for the first band of the evening to take the stage: Morris and The Dancers, a rock band from Manchester who possessed punk musicality and attitude that drew you in from the get-go, setting a very strong precedent for the rest of the gig.

They weren’t about the grit though, they were also keen on having fun, especially when it came to displaying their versatility through an intriguing rock cover of Lizzo’s ‘About Damn Time’ which exuded groove and high energy in abundance, much to the joy of the audience present.

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If that wasn’t enough, Morris and The Dancers made sure you’d have something interesting to mention about them as well as their music in the form of several personal anecdotes, from the lead singer being kicked out of a pub for not doing drugs in the toilet, accompanied with some humorous audience participation, ( "Be honest Who's been kicked out of a bar before?" Cheer "for not doing drugs? Just me? I had a cold and was sniffling too much" ) to a sweet, hilarious tribute about a friend of a band who couldn’t be at the gig. (“he once washed his hair with washing up liquid”)

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Musically this band shined in many ways, the strongest ways being their raw melodic style and rhythmic and at times spoken word vocals driving home many of the track’s lyrical focuses, this is a band that knows who they are and are not afraid to speak their mind or be vulnerable as their final track of the set showed which makes them all the more exciting to watch.

With rockstar flair and style, they left the stage well and truly warmed up for the next artist to take it on. An incredibly strong start to a promising evening.

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With a short break for getting more pints and general small talk in between, energy was high, and bands were eager to play, an exceptionally good sign at any gig. Once everyone was back in their places, and all fuelled up it was time for the next band and host of the gig, alt-rock/grunge three-piece Blvcktoxxine, (Formerly known as Jane Lacey music), to take the stage.

credit:shotbymaw From the get-go, this band had the crowd captivated with punchy alt-rock passion and a haunting grunge musicality, perfect for fans of Maggie Lindermann and Bring Me the Horizon. With a variety of tracks of both a personal nature and an overall social focus on lyricism and storytelling, Blcktoxxine took it to the next level.

Tracks like that of Not A Girl Song, featuring an empowering speech from lead singer Jane Lacey to introduce it, and the band's third track of the set were key highlights, tracks passionate in both melodic rock delivery and hypnotic musical intensity (a staple of the band’s sets over the past year or so), entertained and fascinated the crowd as the set went on, creating an intimate and exciting atmosphere that you couldn’t help but tune into, whether you were stood right by the stage or sat at the back on one of the tables. This gig was more than good music, it was the formation of a beautiful connection between the artist and the audience.

An excellent set overall, however, I wish it had lasted a little longer. time flies by when you're having fun.

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After two incredible sets of live music, some may think the fuel may slowly run out over the night, but you would be wrong to make that assumption, this gig still had plenty of energy and talent to go around. Even just standing in the room while the next band set up, there was a lively buzz from the crowd of both friends and strangers excitedly hyping up the headline band and commenting on how excellent the gig had been so far, as well as general miscellaneous conversations about life, music and how good the venue’s vegan food is. Connections were formed beyond just music at this show.

Soon enough it was time for headline band Violet Club to close out the fuel bar stage in style and excellent company of an encouraging crowd. With indie rock flair, and the cribs-esque musicality, Violet Club hooked you in and kept you there from the jump, unified in stage presence and performance, this band were made for the stage.

credit:Jessica Draper-Mann

Throughout their set this band engaged with the crowd as if they were having fun with close friends, each member of the crowd was welcomed with open arms by tracks like Year Zero, a drum-led indie rock track fun and funky, and a clear favourite of the bands shown by the lead singer of the band and the crowd pulling out their best dance moves to match it. The band proved their loyalty to it further stating that they were hoping “this one was a crowd pleaser.” Comedy was also in the air during their set through a member of the crowd instructing the lead singer “to look everyone in the eye”, a difficult task when anyone is lost in the thrall of music and performance, the band took this in their stride with lead singer, Sam Blackburn, responding with “that would take all night” receiving cheers and laughter from a captivated audience.

The high energy stood its ground further with a cover of Echo Beach (originally by Martha and the Muffins), Violet club took this song and made it their own, with an addictive groove and air of joy. This is a band that feels comfortable playing on stage, no matter the venue, no matter the type of crowd, especially based on many of the anecdotes thrown the crowd's way by them.

This set felt intimate, fun, and bright in energy, so much so that you couldn’t help but be drawn in by it as the set progressed, so much so that close to the end of the set, Power was in the hands of the audience. "What do we want? we've got a fast one, a slow one and a mid-one isn't that exciting?" Sam asked gaining an overall cheerful response as if saying yes to all of them. except for a heckle of “play Wonderwall” from one individual in the crowd.

The choice was made, and a new track was given its day in the sun by Violet Club, a song which showed a softer side of the band, with melodic guitars and an emotional punch in its bittersweet lyricism. The sad times didn’t last long though with another heckle, this time asking for the band to play Wonderwall, hilariously followed by Sam’s guitar cutting out for a moment or so when he tried to play it. Thriving in the moment, it was followed up with a light-hearted statement: "I Thought my guitar broke for that joke". A moment that truly embodies the statement of don’t talk bad about legends if you want to be one.

Credit:Jessica Draper-Mann

Like all good things, they fly by when you’re having fun with them, and Violet Club ended the night in style with a brilliant medley of tracks including Johnny B Goode (Chuck Berry) and Get Back (The Beatles), all with a high energy Violent club flair and brilliance. As people made their way out into the night the atmosphere buzzed with joy and love for the artists who had performed, if this is how Lisztomania are starting out then I’m extremely excited to see where the music will take them, An incredible night of music and fun for all.