Coming off of their refreshingly inventive third album, Lust For Life Or: How to Thread the Needle and Come Out the Other Side to Tell the Story, Courting hit up Manchester Gorilla.

COURTING

Courting is in the midst of an extensive UK tour, bringing their explosive live show all across the country. Having had the pleasure of catching them before, I was eagerly anticipating how their show had evolved with the inclusion of tracks from their latest, fantastic third record.

The band grace the Manchester stage to the sounds of Rollback Intro, the 50 second interlude that kicks of their new LP. As the sounds of the swooping, hypnotising strings comes to an end, they launch directly into Pause At You. With its danceable percussion and vocals from frontman Sean Murphy O-Neill that ooze swagger, the crowd immediately start to move. It’s striking chorus hits even harder in the live setting with people all around me joining to sing along. Not many bands are able to capture a crowd this effectively so early into the set.

Following from the amazing start the band waste no time whatsoever with continuing the energy. Early single Tennis gets the place even more wild through it’s addictive bassline and catchy refrains. Distorted punk rock banger After You follows, which has so much more space and depth being played live. This adds to the intensity of what is already one of their fiercest tracks to date.

SIMPLISTIC BUT EFFECTIVE

The bands stage design is simplistic but incredibly effective. Each member is dressed in fully black outfits with a screen behind them reflecting black and white colours and videos. It shows the detail that Courting put in, with the set up reflecting the cover of their latest album. Also, it really adds to the wilder moments in the set such as the build in The Hills where the screen flashed over and over.

Tracks Namcy and Eleven Sent (This Time) from Lust For Life work brilliantly live sounding extremely tight with earworm choruses. Not only do they sound great, but they compliment their earlier material well and fit in the set. Speaking of earlier material, post-punk rager Crass explodes through its angular guitar grooves and breakneck drum patterns. The snippet of God’s Plan by Drake halfway through the song stands out as tongue in cheek but utterly memorable.

ANTHEM AFTER ANTHEM

The final part of the show sees anthem after anthem being sandwiched between each other. Title track Lust For Life is possibly the most immersive part of the set with its mind-bending structure. The song starts quiet and ethereal before absolutely erupting in its middle. The final part of the song is an American almost rockabilly jam that sounds just as good live as it does on the album. It’s such an impressive song that I am glad they were able to translate so well in the live show.

Fan favourite Flex gets the biggest sing-along of the night, however it is Likely Place For Them To Be that closes out the main set. It’s a crazy moment of rock music with an unbelievable performance from drummer Sean Thomas towards its close. The band walk off stage only before returning for an encore. It’s Grand National and Loaded that end the night on a high with one last chance for the crowd to get involved. Before the final chorus of Loaded, Sean says to the crowd “This might be the last time you see us for a while.” I truly hope It isn’t as Courting put on a live show unlike anyone else in the UK right now.

The gig was an amazing night of some of the freshest UK guitar music available. The band are impressive with how they are able to translate their eccentric music so well in the live setting.

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