Slap bang in the middle of an extensive tour spanning from Los Angeles to Lille, ‘The Boxer Rebellion’ brought their blend of epic, intense and ambient rock music to Manchester’s ‘Factory 251’. The iconic but minute venue allows for an intimate show, which played massively into the hands of front-man Nathan Nicholson and the rest of the band.
Still soaking up the vast success of their second album, 2009’s ‘Union’, the band were alive with energy from the word go, performing a mixture of songs from both of their records, as well as a new track ‘Memo’, and the recent release ‘If You Run’, which featured in September’s blockbuster film ‘Going The Distance’.
It was the echoing riff of ‘These Walls Are Thin’ which opened the bands set, shortly followed by the intense anthem ‘Evacuate’, to which the crowd responded in an ecstatic manner. Observing each of the band members, its obvious how much focus and passion is incorporated into their music, from the layered, soaring guitars to the sharp, crisp loops resounding from Piers Hewitt’s drum kit. Perfectly rehearsed and in tune with one another, the London based four-piece performed with a cohesion that very few bands succeed in mastering.
The brilliant thing about ‘The Boxer Rebellion’ is the balance that they’ve struck between gripping songs like ‘Evacuate’ and ‘Forces’, and more melancholic tracks like ‘Soviets’ and ‘Semi-Automatic’. Nicholson has the ability to produce a melodic wail of desperation and power, reminiscent of ‘The Cooper Temple Clause’ in their early days, which can instantly transcend into an emotional and flawless falsetto. What’s more is that this versatility is perfectly portrayed on stage, making for a brilliant live show.
The stage at Factory is at the same level as the rest of the venue, and while this may not suit those who are unfortunate enough to be at the back of the room, it appeared to suit TBR just fine, as they engaged with the audience in a humble and appreciative manner from start to finish. Nicholson even climbed into the crowd during the bands final song ‘Watermelon’, a vintage track which pleased the fans immensely.
The band produced a performance full of emotion and throttle, which was further intensified by the size of the venue. It’s difficult to imagine there will be too many opportunities left to catch ‘The Boxer Rebellion’ performing at venues with such a personal feel to them. If the bands epic sound propels them to anywhere near the level of popularity they deserve, then they are stadium bound for sure.
Tanners & Balmer 2nd and 3rd from left w/ TBR
©2010 Manchester Live. Words by Chris Tancock. Photos by Chris Balmer.
