Cornwall-based indie-rock headed to The Lion’s Den in Manchester to celebrate the release of their second EP: On The Island We Call Home, with a packed-out show featuring support from Téméraire and Mount St. Helen.

TEmEraire

Liverpool based indie-rock four piece Temeraire opened the night, who have previously supported the likes of Arkayla and Shed Seven. Their set began with Cover My Eyes, with lead vocalist Jake Holloway immediately captivating the crowd with his reflective tone. As their performance progressed, the pace picked up, with flashing lights complementing the guitar and creating an electric atmosphere.

Marc Thompson-Pueyo’s crashing drums drove the performance, adding depth beneath Bill Wells’ bass acting as the ‘cherry on top’ to the set. Sam Horsfield’s guitar playing showcased plenty of passion, while his backing vocals felt so polished it could be easily mistaken as a studio recording. Despite all their music being unreleased, each song was met with a huge reception from the crowd. The energy briefly slowed down for Winter, creating a more intimate moment between the band and audience.

Gradually, the full band was added in under the glow of the neon blue wash. Temeraire’s future feels successful and bright, their songs bringing unique sounds and each member bringing something different to the stage. “Enjoy the rest of your night!” Holloway called out before launching into another electric track Inside The Times, lights flashing and instrumentals growing quicker which marked the end of a vibrant set from Téméraire.

MOUNT ST HELEN

Hailing from Oxford, Mount St. Helen brought their genre-defying music to the music capital of Manchester. The trio’s entrance was suitably dramatic; colours flashing with an underlying crescendo. The band eventually took to the stage dressed in suits which matched the aesthetic they had created. Dim eerie lighting cast bold silhouettes across the stage. They opened with Nineteen, released earlier this year as part of The Stillness, The Dancing EP.

“Welcome to Mount St Helen! Welcome to the show!” Aris Sabeti yelled out before launching into the next track, Zurich, which transitioned through a voice recording that almost felt like a statement or declaration. Another recording featured in the transition into the third song, further adding to the band’s carefully constructed atmosphere.

A DRAMATIC FINALE

“Manchester, how are we doing! Thank you to Fletchr Fletchr for having us,” the frontman told the crowd before a solo performance showcased his delicate guitar playing and soft-spoken vocals. The band then closed the song seriously with the words “It’s time,” creating the impression that the track was coming to an end, only for it to spring back into life as the rest of the band joined in. Pink lighting flashed across the stage during an extended outro, with the Sabeti eventually lying on the floor as another voice recording played over the band’s instruments.

Pariahs saw the frontman truly own the stage, his breathy vocals reminiscent of Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody. He didn’t just play to the crowd; he performed for them, dancing almost uncontrollably as heavy drum beats carried the track and yellow lights flashed around the venue. The song followed a cyclical structure, beginning and ending with the same intricate plucking and beats, giving the performance a satisfying sense of completion. “This is our last song, enjoy Fletchr Fletchr,” he announced before the band closed with Helpless. Bathed in red lighting and accompanied once again by a voice recording, the track proved to be the perfect dramatic finale to Mount St Helen’s set.

FLETCHR FLETCHR

It was then time for the act everyone had been waiting for… Fletchr Fletchr. Yellow lighting illuminated the stage, with opening instrumentals similar to Bleech 9:3. In celebration of their new EP release, the night opened with For You, which got the show off to a great start. Lead singer Rohan Fletcher’s vocals sung with pure passion and emotion. As the venue began to glow in a purple hue, Jet Black got the crowd jumping in the heat of the sweaty venue. Rohan got the crowd clapping as Adam Sanders’ backing vocals shone through.

“This one’s from the first EP,” introduced Feel The Same: played under a neon yellow and green light. A heavy drum beat stayed prominent throughout the track. Midway through the song, Sanders surprisingly pulled out a saxophone for a solo, adding another layer to the band’s already distinctive sound. There was something cinematic about the track; it felt perfectly suited to a coming-of-age film, with a sound which reminded me of Noah Kahan. A personal favourite was Passenger, which leaned into the band’s rockier side. Flashing white and orange lights accompanied Rohan’s raspy vocals. This song would fit perfectly on the fifa soundtrack. 

“It’s our first sold out show in Manchester, thank you so much!” Debbie: Rohan’s stage presence is confident and passionate and you can tell he puts his all into the lyrics. Karma relied on heavy guitars and red flashing lights to bring the energy. From Home began with a backstory, with Rohan saying he and Adam went through breakups at the same time and the song ended up being the first song they wrote, written locked in a room with many bottles of wine. The track showcased the band’s talent to cleverly switch between paces.

LOUDER THAN THE BAND

Streetlights was a fan-favourite that opened with a silhouette of the band under a pink glow. Backing vocals from both bassist and guitarist. Fucking With My Head had the crowd singing louder than the band, while One For The Record was the epitome of an upbeat indie track, with Fletcher getting the crowd to sing “WOAHHHHWOAHOHOHH.“

The energy shifted again with a vulnerable moment from Fletcher. The track Life was created as an anthem about dealing with grief, following the passing of Rohan’s dad, “This song is dedicated to Matthew Fletcher.” A saxophone solo from Sanders rightfully closed the track. “Thank you so much for tonight it’s been absolutely amazing”

Whenever, Whenever was the final track of the night, which began with a sinister drum build up which encouraged the fans to join in and clap to the beat. 

“When you come home?

‘Cause I can’t eat or sleep or speak when I’m alone

So baby, come home 

Whenever you’re gone

All the weeks just seem to be blurred into one

Whenever you’re gone”

Fletchr Fletchr proved their talent to a huge crowd at Lion’s Den in Manchester, and it’s not hard to see they will definitely be a big name in years to come. With their unique musicality and storytelling, the band should be proud of their success. If you haven’t heard of Fletchr Fletchr, you should check them out!

A selection of images from the evening from Sub Khan (check out his Instagram):

Fletchr Fletchr: Website

Mount St Helen: Bandcamp

Temeraire: Website

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