WORDS MEGAN JONES / IMAGES RHYS GROVER
Originally a product of the extremely vibrant Yorkshire scene over a decade ago, The Pigeon Detectives are back to celebrate the release of their new album ‘TV Show’. The Leeds five-piece embark on a tour, including a stop at Manchester’s New Century Hall, which I had the pleasure of attending.
The Leeds five-piece wasted no time warming up the Manchester crowd, opening with the catchy ‘Falling to Pieces’ and working the audience with a whistle-stop tour of their greatest hits to date. We were promised an evening of indie bangers, and we certainly got it. This was rewarded during fan favourites like ‘I Found Out and Take Her Back’, which were a true testament to The Pigeon Detectives and their huge impact on the indie music scene.
Matt Bowman exuded enthusiasm from the start and didn’t let up throughout the set. He must have gone through about fifteen bottles of water in total, though his proclivity for soaking both his own head and unsuspecting fans with them may have contributed to such a high volume of water consumption. Bowman’s voice never falters, nor does his energy waver, for a man who refuses to stand still for the entirety of the show. Bowman commands the stage at all times, whether he’s jumping off drumkits or swinging a microphone around.
Despite the fact that they were formed in 2002, The Pigeon Detectives are as good as they have ever been. A band that emerged from an overcrowded era of indie bands still put their all into every show, and if you ever get the chance to see them live, you will not to be disappointed.
Setlist
1. Falling to Pieces
2. This is an Emergency
3. Hard to Love
4. I Found Out
5. Keep On Your Dress
6. TV Show
7. Done in Secret
8. Lovers Come and Lovers Go
9. Nothing to Do With You
10. Romantic Type
11. Wolves
12. Dreaming of a Song
13. Say it Like You Mean It
14. Enemy Lines
15. Everybody Wants Me
16. Take Her Back
Encore:
17. I’m Always Right
18. I’m Not Sorry
FOLLOW THE PIGEON DETECTIVES
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
