Live Review

Hadouken! – Manchester Academy 2

• 26th Feb 2010

Hands sway towards the front like six year olds who have just gotten the hang of the six times table and teacher is asking questions on it.

As the rugged edged disco-rock and punk twisting Brighton quintet This City, provides earthy rhythm, urgency when needed and oodles of enthusiasm. Chomping guitars push the slightly coarse, soaring vocals of Chris Purr and dance friendly drum beats of Nick Burdett create a carefree, yet hard-edged atmosphere.

Stand out single ‘Black and Blue’, from their promising debut album ‘We Were Like Sharks’, results in a driving rock, featuring Thursday veined atmospheric interludes, style conclusion that is sure the help This City’s fan-base in Manchester city to grow.

Youths pass out and are passed to the back like photos at a family re-union, as the excitement builds for the main draw, Hadouken! A full recovery is made by each of the afflicted upon the sprightly entrance of singer James Smith and company.

They waste no time in getting the pit and all behind it bouncing with the feral post-hardcore/dance stomping anthem of ‘Get Smashed Gate Crash’. They bundle together a broad range of influences from Plan B to Kanye West through to The Deftones. A much appreciated appearance from a giant mouse helps to enhance the fun spirit and, you can’t help hoping that it is also a side-swipe at rock bands who take themselves too seriously (yeah, Arcade Fire I mean you).

The lighter touch, yet meaningful lyrics of ‘Declaration Of War’, shows up an ability to communicate a serious message about needless rivalries, without the pit feeling the need for a breather. Crowd involvement continues right the way throughout this study, robust and genre mixing set, most noticeably in a James Smith cajoled sing-a-long to the hip-hop, soul and rock merging, ‘Mic Check’.

The backing vocals of the likes of James ‘Pilau’ Rice and Alice Spooner are sturdy and add an extra strand in a live setting. The robust, digitally intoned ‘Crank it up’ , keeps the tempo rising and the fervour building.

Hadouken! shows us tonight that aside from being able to bicker with La Roux, they are also continuing to grow in impact in a live setting.

www.myspace.com/thiscitymusic