Before I get into this, I just want to say- if you are ever given the chance to see Bruise Control… TAKE IT. Sure not everyone loves the kind of music they do, but anyone can appreciate the energy they give off and their talent. The most exciting bands around, and a reason to declare Manchester as the best city.

The first time I saw Bruise Control live, they supported Amyl And The Sniffers at the Albert Hall. To open for a band like that is one thing but to do it in a venue like that is something else. I think when I wrote about the show, I said it felt like Bruise Control were headlining. This band know how to put on a show regardless of the venue size. Bruise Control have the power to be as big as those they have supported, and last night they absolutely proved that.

They hit the stage a couple of minutes before 9 and are done about half past. But it didn’t stop there. Given that they blitzed their way through their set, they did a couple more and that included their delicious cover of Sabotage by the Beastie Boys. We know how precious I can be with covers, but trust me- this cover is ridiculous. Everyone goes ape shit to it. The crowd are handed the mic to scream and the best part is when someone is handed it, and they say “absolutely not.” Amongst the loudness of the music, this is met with gorgeous laughter and shows the love and community in the room. I’ve never felt so safe at a show. It felt like home.

They play all the hits from HMRC, No More, Dead on Arrival and so much more. I was just absolutely enamored by the whole set. This band can really really play. There is something about them on record that has you hooked but live it is truly something else. Jim crowd surfing in the shortest of shorts and his socks was insane. I reckon if anyone else did it, they’d look lame but Jim is the soundest of them all. The band are utterly ferocious pros at what they do, and the passion they have is so beautiful to see; for me it’s the way Jim is so grateful for everyone coming out to see them (as if we’d want to be anywhere else!) This band have a proper following here in Manchester, and it makes me so proud to call this city home. Watching the sea of bodies in front of me move to every sound and scream is just heavenly. Bruise Control deserve the world and more, and I hope they get it because they are SO deserving of every positive opportunity that heads their way.

Aside from the Sabotage cover being an absolute killer of a cover and a joy to watch, for me it was always about Dead on Arrival. That song is Bruise Control at their most powerful, and it truly shows how phenomenal they are as musicians. I honestly could watch them every night and not get bored; they have something that we’ve yet to see in other bands and I know their sound isn’t for everyone but my god they can put on a show. And you know what else is magical about it all? Their fans aren’t dickheads. Sometimes at shows like this you can encounter some real idiots in the crowd, but here there was none of that. It was a truly beautiful experience. I urge anyone to go see them live.

Manchester is home to some of the most incredible band and our pals in Bruise Control are leading the way. I could not be prouder of them. I think anyone there last night will probably feel the same too.