Airship - Kings Arms, Salford, 13/9/2011
by Dixie Ernill
published: 3 / 10 / 2011

intro
At the Kings Arms in Salford, Dixie Ernill enjoys a set of epic-sounding indie guitar rock from rising Manchester-band Airship
Never is the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” more true than seeing Airship playing live. Half the band look like they should be sat with Jesus at the last supper and drummer, Steve Griffiths, is a dead-ringer for Johnny Borrell, complete with white t-shirt. It could easily make you head for the bar without hearing a single note. Tonight’s well informed audience, who fill most of the tight space in the faded grandeur of The Kings Arms live room, however, are not fickle and as such enjoy a stunning set that includes every track form the just released debut LP, 'Stuck in This Ocean'. On record Airship sound vast in the way that Puressence or even Echo & The Bunnymen can, but live they are positively cavernous without losing any of the intricate fretwork of Marcus Wheeldon that makes these songs so special in the first place. Elliot Williams’ voice is, if anything, even better live and has that same warmth as Ian McCulloch, while still sounding unique. Bass player, Tom Dyball, is also a key cog in this four-piece, providing, in conjunction with Griffiths, the ideal rhythmic framework for Wheeldon and Williams to weave their impressive talents. Opening couplet ‘Algebra’ and ‘Invertebrate’ are a triumphant start that instantly win over anyone who has not been exposed to their music before, but the strength of their set is nothing short of incredible for a band still in its infancy. ‘Spirit Party’ and recent single ‘Kids,’ that should have been an absolute smash in a just world, probably take the honours, but there are no troughs in their mountain range. This band will be huge.
Picture Gallery:-


live reviews |
Deaf Institute, Manchester, 21/5/2010 |
![]() |
At the Deaf Institute in Manchester, Aaron Brown watches epic rockers Airship play a short, but effective set to a hometown crowd |
reviews |
Stuck in This Ocean (2011) |
![]() |
Fantastic indie rock on slow-burning and atmospheric debut album from Manchester-based band, Airship |
most viewed articles
current edition
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every SongArmory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
John McKay - Interview
Colin Blunstone - Thalia Hall, Chicago, 16/7/2025
Billie Eilish - O2 Arena, London, 10/7/2025
Bathers - Photoscapes 1
Visor Fest - Valencia, Spain, 26/9/2025...27/9/2025
Loft - Interview
Sir Tim Rice - Interview
Robert Forster - Interview
previous editions
Manic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Peter Perrett - In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Interview Part One
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Boomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Coldplay - Wembley Arena. London, 16/8/2022
Prolapse - Interview
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboSick Man of Europe - The Sick Man of Europe
Lucy Spraggan - Other Sides of the Moon
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Amy Macdonald - Is This What You've Been Waiting For?
Phew, Erika Kobayashi,, Dieter Moebius - Radium Girls
Bush - I Beat Loneliness
Alice Cooper - The Revenge of Alice Cooper
Blueboy - 2
Cynthia Erivo - I Forgive You
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart