The View IS IT ALL OVER BEFORE IT BEGINS Live at the Deaf Institute, Manchester UK 11th May 2023

May 12, 2023
UK Concert Reviews
by Billy Seagrave Photographer/Writer

IMAGES BILLY SEAGRAVE / WORDS WILL MAXWELL

The View Comeback May Have Ended Before It Really Began!!!!

After a 5-year hiatus, the Dundee indie rockers The View returned late last year, with 4 sell-out gigs at Glasgow’s O2 Academy showing that the band’s popularity hasn’t diminished.

With a new album due out in August – “Exorcism of Youth” – and a plethora of summer festival dates on the horizon, they once again seemed to have the world at their feet.

But last night in Manchester at The Deaf Institute they hit the self-destruct button.

Local country singer-songwriter Neeve Zahra opened up the evening, treating fans to songs from her upcoming debut EP –“Country Kind of Love”. It was a calm and peaceful start to the night but, spoiler alert: it did not end that way.

The intimate gig – with tickets only available to those who had pre-ordered the new album – should have signalled a triumphant return, with the fans in attendance chanting: “The View are on fire!” before they had even taken to the stage.

For around an hour, the fans got what they expected. Kicking off the night with “Glass Smash” and “Coming Down”, the crowd were bouncing from the very start, before an early rendition of “Wasted Little DJs” whipped them into a frenzy.

Bassist Kieren Webster was celebrating his birthday and the crowd serenaded him with chants of “Happy Birthday” between songs.The buoyant crowd were loving every minute of it as they rattled through other fan favourites such as “Grace”, “Wasteland” and “Typical Time”.

However, it will be a birthday to remember for all the wrong reasons. Having taken lead vocals on “Grans for Tea”, “Realisation” and “Skag Trendy”, out of nowhere lead singer Kyle Falconer put down his guitar and unleashed a barrage of punches on Kieren, leaving everyone in attendance absolutely stunned.

It was quite a vicious, seemingly unprovoked attack, and they had to be separated and dragged off stage.

Kyle would return, allegedly with a broken hand, to perform Face for the Radio, and a confused and astounded audience joined in. However, obviously in no condition to carry on, he left the stage not long after, telling the crowd: “You should ask Kieren to finish the set. The problem with this band is that he wants to sing the songs but he can’t.” A crew member tried to convince him to carry on, but the set was cut short with 7 songs left according to the official setlist.

A bizarre, upsetting, shocking early finish to the gig – and possibly the end of the band altogether.