The Amity Affliction, Boston Manor and more at O2 Ritz (2017)

O2 Ritz (Manchester, UK)

The Amity Affliction, Boston Manor, Vukovi, Casey

The KERRANG TOUR is a staple of alternative music in the UK. Running for […]

By Emily Coulter

• December 8, 2017

The KERRANG TOUR is a staple of alternative music in the UK. Running for over 10 years, this event has brought some of the best bands to a wider audience and allowed many the opportunities to now play sold out arenas around the world, and tonight in Manchester it brings us the Australian Post Hardcore outfit THE AMITY AFFLICTION supported by BOSTON MANOR, VUKOVI and CASEY.

The first band of the night - CASEY - have a hard deal. Being an opening act is hard for any band, but the group nonetheless accept the proverbial challenge as the venue is slowly filling up.

The most mellow but passionate band of the evening, the collective take to the stage and give the Ritz a taste of what they have to offer. CASEY were definitely a great pick for KERRANG to open the tour with, for this band would most certainly be appreciated by fans of BEING AS AN OCEAN and DEFEATER.

Up next on the bill are VUKOVI, a vibrant Scottish Alt-Rock outfit who have provided this line-up with the energy that it desperately needed.

The band go on and get the crowd moving with a selection of songs that includes their new track "And He Lost His Mind", which really kicks the set off.

Potentially one of the best female vocalists currently around, the eccentric Janine Shilstone dives into the crowd between songs and rolls around the stage posing and singing her heart out; this woman is certainly not afraid of what anyone thinks and is ready to go out there and give it all she's got.

VUKOVI are easily one of the best bands of the evening, giving the night the edge it needs. Watch out for this group as they head for high places on the basis of their phenomenal live performance.

Sub-headlining the night are UK Pop-Punk/Emo group BOSTON MANOR. Despite having a short set they sure know how to throw it down with energy and aggressiveness this is a band who truly are much louder live than they are on the record.

Opening up with "Drowned In Gold" to get the crowd riled up and the pits going, this is the most excited the crowd have been all evening.

Vocalist Henry Cox is a front man who can take on any kind of crowd (small or large) and make it feel as intimate as it can be all the while bellowing out his most sincere and personal vocals.

The fan-favourite "Laika" closes out the set and has the crowd singing along so loud that you can barely hear the band.

BOSTON MANOR are easily one of the best bands around and on this tour, and are indeed one of the key reasons to keep the UK scene alive.

Headlining this evening to a crowd of eagerly awaiting, screaming fans are THE AMITY AFFLICITION.

Opening the set with "I Bring The Weather With Me" and "Open Letter" the band has the crowd singing along in no time whilst a few girls at the front even succumb to tears; these guys certainly know how to create a setlist that makes the fans happy.

Despite vocalist Joel Birch suffering with an apparent injury he still manages to get through the set, belting out his vocals and putting all his heart and soul in it.

Bassist Ahren Stringer is also pulling out all the stops on this date of the tour to provide the set with unrelenting energy as he jumps all over the stage and provides his signature backing vocals that the band are so known for.

THE AMITY AFFLICTION close their roaring set with their top hits "Pittsburgh", "Don't Lean On Me" and "This Could Be Heartbreak", thus really rounding out the night with the bang that it deserves.

Setlist:
I Bring The Weather With Me
Open Letter
Lost & Fading
Never Alone
Chasing Ghosts
The Weigh Down
All Fucked Up
Death's Hand
Shine On
Pittsburgh
Don't Lean On Me
This Could Be Heartbreak