Live Review

Blondie – Apollo, Manchester

• 28th Jun 2010

The Apollo is only half full as Oxford’s Little Fish take to the stage. This doesn’t seem to bother the three piece as they burst into their first song. Juju’s husky tones making her comparable to the likes of Juliette Lewis and PJ Harvey and she has the stage presence to match.

By the time they hit their third number the crowd was more receptive to the band. It was clear they were an audience of head bobbers and foot tappers and they were conserving their energy for the main act of the night but they were beginning to show some appreciation for Little Fish. Current single “Am I Crazy?” was a crowd pleaser and gained the most attention from the ever growing crowd.

“Innuendo” closed the band’s half hour set and although the majority of the audience didn’t want to engage with Little Fish, those who did will most definitely appreciate that it was worth it and I, for one, can’t wait to see them on a headline tour of their own.

At 8.45pm sharp, Blondie hit the graffitied stage. Debbie Harry looking more than a little Gaga-esque, dressed head to toe in black with huge sunglasses completing the ensemble. The first words the bombshell spoke were “Hello Manchester, this is Blondie calling.” With which the crowd went wild and the band launched into “Hanging On The Telephone”. They followed this up with new track “Love Doesn’t Frighten Me At All” which manages to sound familiar yet fresh at the same time.

After blasting through fan favourites, “Maria”, “Atomic”, during which the audience is invited to sing most of the lyrics and “Tide Is High” the rest of the band, are given their chance to shine with extended solos. Although all eyes are set firmly on Debbie who manages to remain the epitome of cool, even at 64 years of age. Remember, Blondie is a band after all!

When the opening bars of “Rapture” ring out, I prepare to cringe, will she still really rap during this? Will it be like my Nan attempting to be cool? No, of course it isn’t! Every inch the rock chick, she blasts through it in her American drawl. After a quick pause, they launch into “Call Me” and finish their superb set with “One Way Or Another”.

Returning to the stage for a short encore and a surprising cover of Taio Cruz’s “Break Your Heart”, Blondie finished with a huge rendition of “Heart Of Glass” leaving the crowd screaming for more.