WORDS AND IMAGE BY BILLY SEAGRAVE
‘But Its Tom’s Show And He Is Covering Every Inch Of The Stage, Being Every Ounce The Frontman He Is.’
Friday the 6th May 2022. It was an early call for Billy Seagrave as he headed to the o2 Ritz Manchester, to cover the come back of ex Kasabian front man Tom Meighan for All Music magazine UK/Europe. Its early doors at the o2 Ritz Manchester as Lancaster singer Molly takes to the stage 6.40pm, is the set time, so it was no surprise that there was a slow trickle of people coming through the doors as the offices in Manchester where finally leaving for the weekend. For those that did make it, they found a performer who was clearly making the most of the opportunity being handed to her. She has dedicated her life to music since the age of 10, citing influences such as Tracy Chapman and Fleetwood Mac.
As she grown and developed her sound, Molly. drawn inspiration from artists such as Sigrid and Florence & The Machine. Possessing a wonderful wholesome set of vocals and an uncomplicated writing style, that draws you instantly in, ‘Dynamite’, ‘Whirlwind Weekend’, are stand out tracks that brought many of the early birds to the stage. Keeping the crowd entertained with the excellent ‘Holding on’ and ‘Paradise’, made the early start worthwhile. Keep your eyes out as we have a rising start in our midst.
Main support is from another rising star in Lina Maxine, Russian-American artist, growing up in Moscow before moving to America to study Neuroscience at Brown University. The venue is filling up nicely as Lina takes to the stage with her band, there is an air of confidence coming from an artist that has relatively been on the scene for a short period if time. Straight up front and instantly conversing with a very supportive crowd. Linas’s vocals as soft and assured, rich with tone, delivered masterfully, from an artist that is fully in control of the situation, musically it is a complex range of styles and genres that break through. Punk, indie, Jazz, Alt Rock, and Pop infuse, so well. ‘Mango’ starts off subtle and builds into a rip-roaring crescendo, whilst ‘Rubix’ is a triumph, along side ‘Shall We’. Performance wise Billie Eilish stands out musically and lyrically its Artic Monkeys all the way for me, for me if that’s the standard she is bringing forward I look forward to watching the journey.
It has been a difficult time and a different journey for tonight’s host over the last couple of years. Taking to the stage in front of a full o2 Ritz Manchester, former Kasabian front man Tom Meighan, has been on the march to restart a career that had stopped in its tracks. You don’t need me to explain what went on it was well documented. Judging by the number of t-shirts bought from the merch stand, the most popular seemed to be “No Tom, No Party”.
As the band assemble on the stage and Tom takes to the stage and immediately stands on a platform arms aloft, signalling its party time and I am back, starting with ‘Out Of This World’, taken from his latest ‘Movin On’, EP. The band are up for it the crowd are certainly up for it and Tom, is as ever the front man he had was.
This tour has been an eight date whirlwind showcase, possibly to test the waters, definitely to get Tom back in front of the crowds once again, a combination of his new work and a heavy smattering of Kasabian staples keep the crowd on the up, singing each and every lyric load and proud, ‘Underdog’, the explosive ‘Shoot The Runner’, along with the classic ’L.S.F’, not only deliver the heighten the atmosphere.
The band are in overdrive and keep the show moving, but its Tom’s show and he is covering every inch of the stage, being every ounce the frontman he is. ‘Darkest hour’ gives way to the poignant ‘Let it ride’, which in turn gives way to the anthem that is ‘Empire’, with ‘Club foot’ being the last offering from the set. ‘Movin on’ from his latest EP is the first encore, now let’s make this clear the walls were crumbling, the crowd were boisterous, the performance was exceptional, however, closing out the set and literally taking the roof off was the absolute banger from Kasabian ‘Fire’. What more can I say as a comeback it was epic, but for me it was an opportunity to catch these anthems that are now played an Arenas, and festivals, as they should be, because that’s where they are at home.
SET LIST
1/ OUT OF THIS WORLD
2/ UNDERDOG
3/ SOMETHING’S ABOUT TO CHANGE
4/ ICARUS
5/ SHOOT THE RUNNER
6/ THINKING ON OUR FEET
7/ WOULD YOU MIND
8/ SUNSHINE
9/ LSF
10/ DEEP DIVE
11/ FOOTDOWN
12/ DARKEST HOUR
13/ LET IT RIDE
14/ EMPIRE
15/ CLUB FOOT
16/ MOVIN ON
17/ FIRE
FOLLOW TOM MEIGHAN
FOLLOW LINA MAXINE
FOLLOW MOLLY
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 and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
