Fun Lovin Criminals - Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, 26/2/2016
by Billy Seagrave
published: 10 / 4 / 2016

intro
Billy Seagrave at the Manchester Cathedral enjoys a memorable evening of nostalgia as bestselling York trio the Fun Lovin' Criminals celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their debut album, 'Come Find Yourself'
What a place to celebrate twenty years of an album, a packed out cathedral in the centre of Manchester! Huey Morgan (guitar and vocals), Brian Lieser (keyboards, trumpet and vocals) and Frank Benbini (drums) carved a niche and a lifestyle that gave you a flavour of New York in the 1990s with their debut album, 'Come Find Yourself'. The three guys from Brooklyn, New York brought to the stage a two set presentation, firstly in its entirety 'Come Find Yourself' and secondly a handful of other favourites. They came on stage to strobing lights and the theme to 'Superman' which was an immediate winner for me. 'Fun Lovin' Criminals' was the opener, instantly the band engaging with its audience and the audience with the band. The lost years of jazz funk and rock-infused hip hop laced with Huey's Brooklyn drawl carried the audience straight back to 1996, “How you doing, Manchester”? he asked as the crowd chanted, “Huey,Huey,Huey”. The band were so comfortable and accomplished it felt like it was a home town gig, as they told great little antidotes and stories of how and where the tracks for the album derived. Now I am not sure if it was my imagination, or the incense that the cathedral use at their gatherings or the incense that was being wafted from behind the speakers, but something filled the air for the start of 'Scooby Snacks'. Was this all part of the nostalgia trip? The first part of the show came to an end and the band retired off stage for a few minutes, only to return to the theme from the TV show 'The A Team', There was no let-up in the party atmosphere as they played 'Coney Island Girl' and 'Loco'. Neither had dated in the slightest. All too soon the last track of the night was introduced, 'Big Night Out' bringing down the curtain on an evening of nostalgia, a genre of music that still has a place today. In a place that is usually for the worship of its saints, we came to have our souls cleansed by the Fun Lovin' Criminals. Photos by Billy Seagrave www.seagravesocialphotography.com
Also at Manchester Cathedral, Manchester
Band Links:-
http://www.funlovincriminals.co/https://www.facebook.com/funlovincriminals
https://twitter.com/funlovincrims
Picture Gallery:-




interviews |
Interview (2009) |
![]() |
Peter Allison speaks to Huey Morgan from the much acclaimed Fun Lovin' Criminals about his group's unique merging of musical styles,the band's beginnings on the club scene in New York and 'Classic , their upcoming sixth album |
favourite album |
Come Fun Yourself (2016) |
![]() |
In our 'Re:View' section, in which we look back at albums from the past, Erick Mertz examines the Fun Lovin' Criminals masterwork of 90's funk, blues and hip-hop, 'Come Find Yourself', which has just been re-released for its twentieth anniversary in a three CD box set edition |
features |
'Come Find Yourself' by the Fun Lovin' Criminals (2009) |
![]() |
In the latest in our 'Soundtrack to Our Lives' series, in which our writers describe the personal impact in their lives, Peter Allison writes about first hearing New York trio the Fun Lovin' Criminals 1995 debut album, 'Come Find Yourself', in the midst of the Britpop sensation |
photography |
Photoscapes (2019) |
![]() |
Andrew Twambley takes photographs of the critically acclaimed Fun Lovin' Criminals at the Academy in Manchester. |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Roberta Flack - 1937 - 2025
Dave Barbarossa - Interview
Sukie Smith - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Doris Brendel - Interview
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Jay Reatard - Interview
Brian Wilson - City Hall, Sheffield, 2/8/2017
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Deacon Blue - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Kay Russell - Interview with Kay Russell
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
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