WORDS AND IMAGES MICHAEL BOND
Bob Vylan bring the noise to the Manchester O2 Academy
Bob Vylan provides an intense set, cutting through the bullish!t on the current state of our not-so-great Britain. With pounding drums and scathing lyrics, the two Bobs (Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan) create an inclusive atmosphere for the disenfranchised, re-enforcing that they are one of the most important UK bands around at the moment.
Starting the show in the same way they always do with a set of warm-up stretches, Bobby invites the crowd to join in. Get the room pumped up together for the night ahead, as they jump straight into ‘Down’ with its heavily distorted guitar, drum beat like a pneumatic drill and ominous tone. Setting the scene for the night, with no hesitation next up is ‘Reign’ with its Prodigy-style drum break the crowd immediately bounces as Bobby prowls backwards and forwards across the stage. Diving straight into GYAG both metaphorically & physically, Bobby jumps down from the stage, into the pit and onto the barrier. He then raises it a notch as he jumps out and surfs into the crowd, as he continues through the song.
Listening to the lyrics, you get a sense of the journey these two have been on through their lives and calling out some of the obstacles facing this un-United Kingdom, while the privileged few seemingly appear to be thriving around us. This theme is something that has a positive twist, in the form of ‘Dream Big’, a song that features frontman Bobby’s daughter, nieces and nephews on backing vocals. Driving home the importance of having dreams no matter your age and encouraging self-belief. From something positive and encouraging the focus then shifts to ‘He’s a Man’ a song addressing toxic masculinity and misogyny across our society. With a driving guitar riff reminiscent of close friends Soft Play’s song ‘The Hunter’ and clever, scathing lyrics. These two are cleverly picking up on the different parts of society they come into contact with. Observing the impacts and channelling this anger into something positive.
The set is then broken up by a brief interlude of Roy Ayers ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’. Starting off all chilled as the track begins to build, drummer Bobbie has the opportunity to show off his credentials with a frankly amazing drum and base solo through the entire track. Giving frontman Bobby a well-earned rest to catch his breath. Returning back on stage and commenting on his Mariah Carey– esq costume change, into a pair of Fred Perry tracksuit bottoms and bare chest, showing off his tattoos.
Next is ‘Ring the Alarm’, a slower dub-style track that is no less menacing and layered up with samples. Completely self-reliant and released under their record label Ghost Theatre. The band have no one to answer to apart from themselves and the fans who have helped push their gradual rise over the past 7 years, to a place where they are getting wider recognition for the true disruptors they are. Speaking the truth from their surroundings. With tracks like ‘Northern Line’ addressing fear-mongering across our mainstream media and ‘Wicked and Bad’. From here Bobby carries on the theme and heads back into the pit to continue crowd surfing as well as encouraging the mosh pit while reminding everyone to look after each other.
Asking for requests from the crowd and after around 1,500 people all shouted out together, the band settled on ‘Bait the Bear’, a track of social commentary that addresses colonisation and immigration. This message is reinforced with ‘We Live Here’, talking about the everyday racism that is still entrenched in this country.
With a sharp eye and an even sharper tongue, Bob Vylan put on an incredible performance tonight. With a lot of noise coming from just two blokes, along with some important messages these guys are not to be ignored. Both angry, Humble, soft, and kind in equal measures, they haven’t forgotten where they have come from and the difficult journey to get to this point. Thanking the crowd for all their support and setting time aside at the end of the show to meet and greet people at the merch stand before the evening’s curfew. Following this outpouring of life, there is just time for one more song. Enter ‘Hunger Games’, a track that brutally references the economic and political climate where the pay gap widens and people struggle to feed themselves while also focusing on the positive of our collective power, to drive change.
Tonight’s show has been nothing short of phenomenal and God bless a country that allows freedom of speech and the opportunity for these kinds of disruptors.
SET LIST
1. Down
2. Reign
3. GYAG (Get Yourself a Gun)
4. Dream Big
5. He’s a Man
6. Everybody Loves the Sunshine – (Roy Ayers cover)
7. Ring the Alarm
8. Northern Line
9. Wicked & Bad
10. Pretty Songs
11. GDP / I Heard You Want Your Country Back / England’s Ending / CSGB
12. The Delicate Nature
13. One More Day Won’t Hurt – (SOFT PLAY cover)
14. Bait the Bear
15. We Live Here
16. Hunger Games
FOLLOW BOB VYLAN
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
