Tom A. Smith, Hunny Buzz – Deaf Institute, Manchester .
You get a special buzz going to a gig, especially to one that is sold-out at Manchester’s Deaf Institute. The room was packed and buzzing with excitement before anyone got on stage. People were packed in tightly standing shoulder to shoulder. Everyone who has came tonight were eager fans of Tom A. Smith and excited for the night to unfold.
TOM A. SMITH
“The future of music” declares Tom A. Smith’s Bandcamp page.
By the time Tom A Smith took to the stage the room had shifted again. The sold-out crowd felt louder and more eager than before, everyone was waiting for this moment. The moment the lights dip he takes centre stage. Tom A. Smith has a way of making the stage his own. The way he moved on stage was infectious, instinctively grooving on stage to his music and to the rhythm. You could see the people in the crowd mirroring him and nodding along and moving without thinking.
What stood out to me was how involved the audience was. They were not just reacting to what was going on, they were present for all of it. Tom A. Smith’s stage presence has that effect. He has this ability of getting everyone involved and able to captivate everyone and getting them singing and dancing along. Watching him moveon stage you couldn’t help but want to move along too. The crowd was fully locked in and ready for more.
THE MONDAYS INSPIRATION
One of the memorable moments of this show was when Tom was talking about writing a song that was inspired by the Happy Mondays. You can tell people from Manchester are proud of where they are from. The crowd instantly reacted and roared with excitement, but the energy lifted even higher when he brought out Rowetta. It was one of those moments that felt both surprising but inevitable and the kind of thing that could only happen at The Deaf Institute. Having her on stage and performing with Tom you could not help but feel proud. You can tell that this moment meant a lot to Tom as he stated he was a fan of Happy Mondays, and being able to witness this moment
Throughout the set Tom’s presence was a mix of confidence but also appreciation – you could see how much the night meant to him. A sold-out show, a crowd fully locked in your performance and supporting you for the whole show felt like a milestone than just another date on a tour poster. The energy Tom gave to the audience they put that energy right back, people were singing and dancing alongside with him, talking about memories they have shared from previous shows. Many people who showed up tonight were long time fans of Tom A Smith and it felt like a privilege to be there talking to fans who have watched him grow as a musician.
A PERFECT NIGHT
Walking out of The Deaf Institute afterwards the cold Manchester air felt like a shock. Inside everything had been warm and close and buzzing. It was one of those nights that stays with you not because it was perfect. Because it felt real. Two acts, Hunny Buzz and Tom A. Smith who did not need to pretend a crowd who showed up ready to feel something and a venue that knows exactly how to hold nights like this.
HUNNY BUZZ
Hunny Buzz was the first band on stage tonight – a four-piece band from Bristol that carry themselves with charm. They showed no urgency, allowing the room to settle around them and eased into their set with confidence. When watching this band perform, what stood out to me other then the music was how the band interacted with one another and also with the audience. The drummer stole the show when he got up from behind the drums and took centre stage to sell their merch. It was nice seeing a small band have such confidence and make us feel like we were there for them.
Not once did Hunny Buzz feel over confident or over polished on stage, they felt natural and at ease and it gained the audiences attention right away. Lydia’s voice was so captivating live, soft but steady but really shone on stage. Her’s and the bands performance was something special, and to win an audience so quickly is something special.
I think Tom could not have picked a better band to open for him on this tour. There is something about Hunny Buzz’s energy and performance that fit right in to the Manchester vibe. You could not help being a fan of theirs, when leaving the show myself and I can imagine many others were checking out their Spotify to find their next top song. I am excited to see what they do next in the future, hopefully more touring and more music.
Tom A. Smith: Bandcamp
Honey Buzz: Website