Live Review: We The North + The Cases + The Rye + Bad-Ape @ Club Academy, Manchester

We The North
Special Guests: The Cases + The Rye + Bad-Ape
Venue: Club Academy, Manchester
Date: 28th April, 2023.
Review By: Mark Young

The Cases

The Cases start us off, with a mixture of original and covers, but are on before 8 as the room is starting to fill. Sound is In the Arctic Monkeys vein but leaning into the lighter side. As starters go, they give it a good fist, and those present rewards with suitable applause. It’s a good start, and they end with a drum solo, which is always good to see. (3 / 5)

The Rye

The Rye are a three-piece and a little more up-tempo, with a slightly more rock than indie sound but still firmly in the shape of traditional British guitar music. There are a few more bodies here now, and although it’s a little rough, it looks as if they are still finding their identity. They are certainly having a go of shaking the crowd up but just need a bit of extra oomph in attack, but this will come. (3 / 5)

Bad Ape

Next up, 5-piece Bad Ape act as a circuit breaker, and offer a little more, with some well written songs and an engaging frontman that can really sing. Not content with sticking to one facet of indie / rock, they run through several confident songs that are at a good, solid level. The difference in quality is clear to see, as they close out their set with another well received track and get the audience involved with some backing. One to watch for the future. (4 / 5)

We The North

As they take the stage for their first headline at Club Academy, there is no sense of nerves or apprehension as they just boot into the first song from their nine-song set. Their style is in complete contrast to the three prior bands and leans into the heavier side, with a compact sound that belies the fact they are only a three-piece. 

Each song is delivered in a tight and precise fashion, stopping briefly to introduce their new EP and to engage in chat with the crowd, which is kept to a minimum, so that we can concentrate on the music, as it is this they are here to bring.

When you look at the bands here tonight, you can see that some are just starting out, others have some of the craft in place but just need something more. With We The North, they have both the stage craft and the songs in place, and surely more headline slots will follow. As mentioned before, there are levels in place which come from slogging around smaller venues and from paying your dues. Tonight, they have shown that they can play on any stage and have the songs to support that. Impressive set by a great band. (5 / 5)