Buy a ticket for any gig with The Empty Page and you always know you’re in for a treat, but tonight was really something special. Emotional, wholesome and inspiring in equal measures, they really brought their A-game for this sold out gig in legendary Manchester music venue the Star & Garter.
Starting the evening with a guerilla acoustic session, vocalist Kel and guitarist Giz took over a small room near the bar and sang four tracks: ‘What Happens Now’, ‘Yoyo’, their brand new single ‘When We Gonna Run?’ and finished with an emotional crowd singalong to The Stone Roses’ ‘I Wanna be Adored’ – dedicated to much-loved Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Mani, who sadly passed away recently.
Kickstarting the evening upstairs were Steel. – a 3-piece band who played a blinding bass-heavy set with vocals reminiscent of Dry Cleaning. With the dry ice streaming, the band’s funky brand of punk really set the scene for the rest of the night.
Next up was A Void, energetic guitar punk with their own dedicated fanbase, who screamed their way through their set to rapturous applause and shouts of appreciation.
Finally it was time for The Empty Page to take the stage and the crowd, already crammed in the small space, surged forward in excitement as they launched into fan favourite ‘Cracks in the Surface’.
The 3-piece band had a line up change recently, with Steve taking over the helm from previous drummer, Jim. Jim is a legendary character, and even though he is no longer playing drums, he is still best of friends with Kel and Giz and was in the audience to show his support. The crowd went wild when he climbed up on stage for the ending refrains of ‘Level Sedentary’ – an ode to famously depressed characters and the section he yells backing vocals to in the recording. Jim led the crowd in chanting “I’m Vonnegut, I’m Plath, I’m Proust, I’m Bonnie Grape, I’m Charlie Brown”. As he climbed back down, emotions ran high and the crowd continued to chant his name proving just what a loved member of the band he still is.
We were also treated to three brand new songs: ‘Death on our Side’, ‘Feminine Ending’ and the latest single ‘When we Gonna Run’. Playing three brand new tracks in a row could be a risk for some bands, but the crowd absolutely lapped it up and gushed about the new music at the end of the show. Mark your calendars for January & March, when these songs will be released.
Kel spoke throughout the gig of the importance of getting together in small venues like the Star & Garter, and gave thanks for the impact the building has made on the Manchester music scene, stating that she feels very lucky to be able to stand on a stage in Manchester considering its inspiring history and the impact the city has made on music.
The Star & Garter is a historic pub, visible from Piccadilly station – if you’ve been on a train coming into Manchester, you may have seen the large mural of Ian Curtis on the side. Originally built in 1803, the building was moved, brick by brick, about 50 yards down the road when the train station expanded. It was converted to a music venue in 1991, with multiple rooms surrounding the bar downstairs and a nightclub and gig space upstairs. It was the place to be for indie kids in the 90s, and is still an essential alternative venue today.
Throughout the gig, raw emotion dripped from the walls as the hardcore fanbase yelled lyrics back to the stage, danced, and partook in some cathartic screaming. The night ended with the incredible ‘When the Cloud Explodes’, and what remained of the roof was completely torn off by the sheer ferocity and intensity of the song. Finally, the crowd filed out into the night, full of heart, big grins and Mancunian pride.