A QUIRKY converted institute attic is the vintage homecoming venue for Mancunian indie-rock band, The Answering Machine.
On a frosty Monday night, you can understand why there’s no massive queue outside but on arriving at the gothic-looking Deaf Institute, Manchester, just in time for Foals-inspired support act, Rapids!, the crowd looks notably disinterested, standing a good 10 feet from the stage. Things can only get better in terms of atmosphere at least.
Clad with stain glass windows, stacked speakers, some banked velvet seating and a humungous disco ball, an interesting gig definitely looks to be on the cards inside this human-sized cuckoo clock of a venue.
Having supported the Manic Street Preachers on tour last year, expectations of the group, signed to Heist or Hit Records, are definitely quite high. In fact the band formed back in 2005 just across the road from the venue, at the University of Manchester.
Walking out to their trademark on stage thick set TV screens, ditching a jumper reminiscent of Christmas 1986, frontman Martin Colclough wastes no time in getting to the good stuff with ‘Oh Christina’ from debut album, ‘Another City, Another Sorry’. Straight from the off, the guitars sound crisp, and Colclough is on the edge of the stage yearning for a sing along, warming up nicely for the bigger tracks.
Trying to rally the home crowd, Colclough actually asks the crowd to step closer to the stage but instead they look like middle-aged lambs to the slaughter during the early songs in particular. They break out into applause after the music stops however as if they’re playing impromptu reverse musical statues.
Sipping an energy drink, the band launch into the winding and utterly catchy ‘Obviously Cold’. Immediately when the band hit the chorus, you cant help but think, ‘how is this track not massive?’. It’s upbeat, jumpy, rhythmic and the band is tight, with a lead singer who sounds like a young Grant Nicholas from Feeder at times.
Then you turn to look at the crowd and they look like they’re listening to Mick Hucknall rap to Lady in Red by Chris De Burgh, they look totally out of the zone. In fact the most cringing moment occurs when the singer tries to get the crowd clapping, to an unsurprising, stone faced non-reply.
The massive disco ball dominating the creaky wooden roofing, shimmering on to the glum face of the timid Ron Jeremy look-a-like at the front of the crowd, sums up the eerily cold crowd reaction.
But a couple of tracks thrown in from their upcoming second album, such as ‘3 Miles’ and new single ‘Animals’ grace the up to now faultless set, lightening the mood somewhat. There’s definitely potential here. The former’s searching riff, thick bass and lovely high pitched vocal just works, as guitarist, Pat Fogarty, busts out an odd fluorescent blue mouth organ mid-song.
‘Animals’ is a calmer offering, with a catchy yet low tempo melody, but you cant help but think that a younger, up-for-it audience would have eaten up the tracks on offer.
The undoubted highlight of the night is the mid-set appearance of their third single, ‘Lightbulbs’. With its rocky guitar-ridden melody and punchy chorus, the crowd even joins in a little, singing, “Her eyes just pop like lightbulbs and no, we can turn this, we can turn this round.”
The sweat ridden five-piece sign off with the FIFA 10 anthem, ‘It’s Over, It’s Over, It’s Over’. It charms the pants off you with its hopeful Manics-esque “Ahhhhhhhhhh’s” and rocky underbelly. But inexplicably, it is still not enough to get much more than a flinch out of the crowd, who at times could have been confused for extras from Shaun of the Dead.
On this showing, The Answering Machine are a tight, well drilled band with bags of ability and a selection box of catchy, intelligent tracks. Considering it was for over 18s only, the entrance policy may have been a bit misjudged but that by no means takes away from the band’s ability to smash out a great live performance.
With the right crowd, tonight could have been a classic gig. The quirky venue, creaky floor boards, good support bands and a top quality live performance from a precise group are all ingredients tainted by an aged, conservative set of punters. If it is foot-tapping, upbeat, indie tunes that float your boat, this band is a must see.
Also published on www.virgin.com
http://www.virgin.com/music/reviews/the-answering-machine-live-review-manchester-deaf-institute/
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