Opening with 1998’s ‘Pure Morning’ the driving introduction erupted the night as the frontman Brian Molko and towering bassist Stefan Olsdal took center stage. “Manchester was the first town we got a guitar nicked” revealed Molko as he welcomed the crowd to their 20th birthday party.

Placebo are a band proud of their image and excel themselves in an intimate live environment. To do so, Molko, demanded that all phones and cameras were to be put away as to center the attention on the stage. Most did listen to the jibe at modern concert culture, however a brave few did try to snap some photos again. This didn’t quite go to plan as Molko stopped, 2014’s ‘Loud Like Love’ to call out a member audience who didn’t think he was serious.

The greatest hits setlist was cherry-picked tracks that cemented Placebo as one of the UK’s premier alternative acts. Fans are drawn to Placebo as they vocalize the issues that are rarely covered with such artistry. 2014’s big chorus anthem ‘Too Many Friends’ touches on isolation in this modern internet age, 2003’s ‘Bitter End’ sees harsh scratchy indie guitars dictate a track based largely on classic book ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ and 2001’s ‘Special K’ is an anthem for those struggling with addiction and finding love.

Images of David Bowie bestowed the backboards of the stage during 1999’s ‘Without You I’m Nothing.’ The band collaborated with Bowie for this track as he added additional vocals to the piece and still remains a great influence on the band. The phones-off rule brought the entire show closer together and made the gig feel more intimate and forced the fans to take in the moment- however, it did make Punktastic’s note taking a bit more tricky.

Molko approached the crowd arms open to thank them as the set drew to a triumphant close. Bassist, Stefan Olsdal, emerged with a rainbow designed bass for hit ‘Nancy Boy’ as an image to show the bands roots and unique importance to LGBT culture. It was also quite fitting that the day in question was National Coming Out Day. The set ended with the chilling Kate Bush cover ‘Running Up That Hill’ as the Manchester dissipated into the equally chilly Manchester twilight.

WILL WHITBY

Released earlier this year ‘After The Party’ is the fifth album from the Pennsylvania rockers and is an idyllic mix of matured songs with punk roots but with Springsteen-esque crescendos. Described by the band as “a love letter to their twenties” it incorporated a more pack-a-punk heartland rock sound with big guitar licks and even bigger choruses.

Opening with album opener ‘Tellin’ Lies’ it was clear from the first chorus that everyone in the room was on the same wavelength. A chorus blazing of “where do we go when our twenties are over?”, the matured crowd gave out so much energy it wouldn’t look out of place at a teen pop-punk show- pits and pointing everywhere!

This wasn’t the only taste of punk in Manchester that night as Manchester Punk Festival brought in bands from all around the world to Manchester to celebrate on its opening night. In fact, The Menzingers decided to swap the dates of the Manchester and Bristol dates around as to not clash with the festival too much. The group even gave a shout out to punk band The Murderburgers during the set declaring “there is so much good music in this city this weekend.”

Having two vocalists is something that The Menzingers play to their advantage as Tom May and Greg Barnett play off each other throughout the show. The chemistry on stage is that of a group of guys who have been doing this for years and they’re finally growing overseas and it is rewarding to see as a fan.

The venue tonight was the Academy 2 which by day plays hosts to Manchester University student events to which Greg Barnett asked; “Do any of you go university here?” To which a meagre 7 people put their hands up – PT included. Barnett continued to indulge the crowd in the story behind the next track ‘Midwestern States’ which is about graduating one day and the next going on tour and never looking back.

With the mosh pit and crowd continuing to erupt to ‘Rodent’ the onslaught of brilliant choruses continued. As album track ‘After The Party’, ‘Bad Catholics’ and show highlight ‘Your Wild Years’ emptied out the crowds vocal chords as the show drew to an end.

Encores came from nostalgia anthem ‘Lookers’ released last summer and one of the highlights of 2014’s ‘Rented World’ and ‘In Remission’ to jam the show out. It was during the last song where PT saw something that cemented why live music and bands like The Menzingers are so important.

Spotted in the crowd was a student with what looked like his dad. Both looked like they lived for music, both were drenched in sweat from a night moshing and both were wide-mouthed shouting the lyrics back to the stage. Seeing both generations go for it brought it home that The Menzingers are one of the few bands to be cherished. They’re a band that brings people together, evokes heaps of nostalgia and brings the good times along for the ride.

WILL WHITBY