Enuff Z'nuff - Manchester University, Manchester, 4/12/2009

  by Dixie Ernill

published: 1 / 12 / 2009

intro

At an atmospheric gig at Manchester University, Dixie Ernill sees New York-based and C86-influenced band the Pain of Being Pure at Heart play a lively and exuberant set of pop/rock

The early birds at tonight’s gig are treated to a stunning set from, according to the Manchester Evening News, "soon to be massive indie-wonders" the Heartbreaks, who have been added to the bill late in day. Their brand of C86/the Smiths meets Phil Spector is thrilling live and they are definitely ones to watch out for in 2010. It is, however, the headliners that the majority have come to see and they disappoint no-one. Like the Heartbreaks at the start of the night, they take the best elements from the C86 era, give it a modern twist, throw in some lyrics that are anything but twee and have the majority of the crowd going mental for the duration of their set. Drawing mainly from the recent self-titled debut LP and subsequent EP 'Higher than the Stars', the band almost hit the heady heights of their gig at The Irish Centre in Chorlton (Manchester) earlier in the year when a near riot broke out amongst a fervent crowd. Indeed singer Kip Berman makes reference to the Chorlton gig as being his favourite. Whilst the band have a heavy C86 influence, they are best described as a heady mix of Wedding Present guitars, early Primal Scream’s pop suss and the Smiths jangle, fronted by Bobby Wratten from the Field Mice. If this doesn’t quite work on paper, it certainly does live. The band seem to be enjoying things almost as much as the crowd with seemingly choreographed onstage movements and smiles as wide as the M60. It’s hard to pinpoint highlights from such a great set, but 'Come Saturday', 'Young Adult Friction' and 'Higher than the Stars”'seem to bring the most satisfaction. The 'Sally Cinnamon' sounding 'Gentle Sons', which they close with, is also a great moment. I knew that band had received some reasonable press, but I wasn’t quite expecting such a wonderful atmosphere and such an ace gig. This is what Friday night gigs should be.

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