Rise Against, Thursday and Poison The Well Live
Manchester Apollo, 19/11/2009

So here I am typing this, still buzzing from the whole Rise Against show, and when I mean whole I mean all three acts that appeared in what is my pick of best complete show of the year. Poison The Well and Thursday played like the potential headliners they are, after several years of writing, recording and performing. While parts of Cumbria are close to aqua submergence.

I’m travelling down towards Manchester wondering when the rain torrent will reach me, but it never did. I arrive at the Apollo to find one of the longest queues of fans I have seen there for some time, snaking right round the back of the venue, forever. The Apollo was made for rocking and to cover events here is a photographic and listening pleasure, with some of the best safety/security of any UK venue.

Within seconds of entering the auditorium I’m straight down to the photo pit to catch the last two songs (of my 3-song photographic quota) from USA emo metallers Poison The Well, a band I know nothing about. I’m impressed. Great songs, great performances with my only criticism being that the lead-man remained unlit for the whole of set - a tad difficult if you’re trying to take photographs. The crowd loved the set too and really warmed to what one can only describe as a professional and connecting experience.

Was it an accident that Thursday performed in Manchester on a Thursday? Who the f..k knows or cares because the band gave it some welly and came dangerously close to out-playing the main course for the night. Lead-man Geoff Rickly is a powerhouse athlete of a vocalist, but what impressed me most were songs packed tight with melody and high on emotion. Punk, heavy rock, call it what you will but this band is my previously undiscovered heavy rock gem of the year.

The short set included seven songs from at least three of their albums which I found a bit strange as I would have expected them to major on songs from the new album. However, it did illustrate clearly that this band has material in depth and a strategy of steady progression - the new songs are killers! Crowd loved ‘em, I loved ‘em.

When I got back home I checked them out and found that they’ve already released around five albums, and it’s been a good few years since they first joined hands. Then I kicked myself for not buying the over-priced album off the merch stand while hoping against hope my B-class local HMV stocks it…LOL

Thursday Setlist

1. Other Side Of The Crash
2. Understanding In A Car Crash
3. Resuscitation Of A Dead Man
4. At This Velocity
5. Division St
6. Circuits Of Fear
7. Jet Black New Year