I’ve been to a lot of concerts in my day. I’ve even been to the Grammys in 2005 and have seen an eclectic mix of bands and solo acts hit the stage. I’ve seen people pass out on stage, and I’ve seen bands literally bleed for the fans while they play the sets of their lifetime. After last Wednesday, November 9th, I can add Manchester Orchestra to the list of disgustingly passionate performances I’ve witnessed in my 24 years. The sold out show, presented by PacSun for the PacTour 2011, was completely impressive, to say the least. Everything from the opening acts White Denim and The Deer Hunter to Manchester Orchestra as the main event blew me, and the rest of the audience, away.
First and foremost, I’ve never seen Altar Bar as crowded and jam-packed as it was that night. It took my friend Dave and I about 20 minutes to trudge our way through the crowd just to get a drink and get situated. Even then, the mass of people blocked the stage, making it difficult to see. If you know Dave, you know he is as spirited as they come. It didn’t take long for him to lose interest in not being front row. That, coupled with press credentials, made for an amazing concert experience, right in the mix of it all.
Manchester Orchestra hit the road this year to promote their latest release, Simple Math, which dropped in May. Playing songs from each of their records since 2006, the Atlanta-based rock band blew the roof off of Altar. At one point, lead singer Andy Hull stopped to continuously thanks everyone and make mention of how kick ass it was that they were playing a sold out show for fans who were singing the lyrics to every single song. When the crowd of die-hard fans starting chanting his name, Andy made a point to talk about how it’s not just him up on stage; it’s a band…a family.
Manchester played all of my favorites, including “April Fool,” “Pride,” “I’ve Got Friends,” “Shake It Out,” “Virgin,” and “Everything To Nothing.” The set itself was non-stop, full on rockin’ out at light speed. The crowd moved as one, as the beat of each song drove onward toward an encore that figuratively kicked everyone in the chest (the sign of a sick rock concert). Below is the setlist from the show. If you have the opportunity to see these guys live, do it. DO IT!
SETLIST:
- April Fool
- Pride
- 100 Dollars
- My Friend Marcus
- Pale Black Eye
- Pensacola
- I’ve Got Friends
- Shake It Out
- Deer
- Please Move (Bad Books cover)
- I Can Barely Breathe
- Simple Math
- Virgin
ENCORE:
- The Only One
- Everything To Nothing
- The River
Overall, not only was the show a huge success and a lot of fun, but also, it was an experience. PacSun and the PacTour 2011 have been nailing it and will continue to do so on the remaining dates. They have made that evident. As for Altar Bar and Manchester Orchestra…unbelievable and impressive show. The band will continue to see massive success for some time to come, that’s for damn sure.
~By Dominic Janidas
~Photography By Matthew Shuck
