Music, Mosh Pits and Madness: BILK Perform At Manchester’s Academy 3

The gig was an explosion of chaos. 

It had everything you could want from bands and audiences alike, with raw talent, high energy and true cohesion between the two filling the room from when the doors opened to the very final song. There was not a body in the room free from the sweat of a good time, or a voice that didn’t end up croaked and hoarse for the best reasons possible. 

Doors opened and, after just a few minutes of chatter in the venue, locals Northway opened the night; it couldn’t have started stronger. Immediately, the crowd was cheering and in heavy anticipation of front-man Kian Coggins’ appearance among his bandmates. Once onstage, his ability to interact with the fans and the overall balance between each member would lead anyone to believe they have been together for years when, in reality, this is only their second full year as Northway. Amazing stuff. Their opening song really brought the energy and set the tone for an incredible night to come; Coggins was keen to introduce them all on stage one by one and showcase the level of talent that was so evident. And this was all reflected in their collective sound as inhabiting this rock sphere with all the elements of musical sophistication that comes with years of expertise. 

Following them was the rock band The Cheap Thrills, giving us yet another show of passion and vigour. Continuously, there was a great display of not only talent but also expertise, weaving each instrument together as though they could not be played on their own. Their song ‘reborn’ particularly entertained the crowd; it got everyone clapping along to the sound and really encompassed them as an entity with the crowd in this way. And then, in true musician fashion, we heard solos that prove just how amazing they are individually too. So, ultimately, we were left with a rounded sense of each musician's talents and a great and increasing appreciation. 

Then came Bilk, and they both met and exceeded every expectation of the large crowd standing before them. From the second that they sporadically came on stage, they had an air of their typical rock and roll attitude about them, ready to cause the chaos they’re famous for. Much of their set consisted of their new album ‘Essex, Drugs and Rock & Roll’ with some old tunes interspersed; their opening song was the first on this new album ‘RNR’. It was clear then that this was going to be what we know as a Bilk gig taken to the great extreme. The mosh pit opened immediately, and everyone began jumping and singing, smiles on each face in the room.

After a few spilt beers and pulled t-shirts, their set took a slight break from the chaos. On this new album, there are a couple of songs which take a more mellow and calm approach to music, and including these in their set really amplified their diversity as a group. Abrams introduced these with a very literal approach, saying that they were going to be a bit slower but acknowledging that Bilk fans are Bilk fans- there’ll be high energy despite the song’s tempo. They sing with such engagement and enthusiasm that it’s impossible to take your eyes off them at any point whatsoever. 

Before the gig came to a close, typical chaos ensued once more and the crowd literally could not get enough. The saying "one more song" had never been so loudly chanted in a venue as the crowd desperately wanted more and more, for the night to never end. And much to our enjoyment, they performed another three songs before heading to the merch stands to sign and meet their fans. 

We had ‘Bad News’ which was an excellent bridge between a more romantic song but with the high energy typical of their older album, and this got the crowd excited. Abrams was eager to split the room into the biggest pit yet during this song and get everyone on the floor involved, something that very few bands do with the success and taste in approach that Bilk takes. Finally, as a typical closing song of one of their gigs, they played ‘Daydreamer’, a track that new and old fans alike knew word for word and were keen to get involved with. 

Overall, it was a night that cannot be described as anything other than wonderfully intense. The chaos that the band often discuss in their music and interviews existed and grew throughout the course of the evening, and the sweat and smiles from the fans were the perfect acknowledgement of that. 

Abby Tapping 

@abs.tapp75

Images: Dominic McDermott 

 

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