It’s a Thursday night, and I just finished watching a performance video of Manchester Orchestra blowing the roof off at The Earl. I was lucky enough to take in the experience with my wife and daughter. It’s one of those special musical memories that will stick with me for a long time. It just so happens that many of these memories are connected to Manchester Orchestra.

The first time I got into ManchOrch was in 2006 when I heard a song of theirs in a video game. For some reason, my fandom faded, but it was reignited in 2014. My girlfriend (now wife) surprised me with tickets to see Kevin Devine at the TLA, and it turned out that Kevdev was opening for Manchester.  Since I knew their first album and was familiar with the band, I decided to check them out. For 90 minutes, the band blew me away with their dynamic range on stage. I had no idea the indie band I liked in 2006 could ramp things up that hard. That night, they were touring their album COPE.

Since that moment, Manchester Orchestra has been one of my favorite bands. (They’re actually ranked second all-time for me, but who’s counting?) I’ve been to so many of their shows in the last 10 years that I’ve lost count. I even attended a first listen premiere for A Black Mile to the Surface at a Sonos store in New York, and I’ve been to three of Andy’s solo performances. My wife and I have bonded over their music, and we’ll never forget our first listen of Million Masks of God in our living room. Even my cousin and mom have become fans, and we’ve been able to bond over their music and see them together.

Needless to say, I’m extremely thankful for this live release. It captures the raw energy and intensity that initially drew me to the band in 2014. The guitars are as massive as ever, the drums and bass are powerful, and Andy’s vocals are yelled/strained in the best way. While their last two studio albums are my favorites, this rocking live album is a refreshing departure from their more laid-back approach. It’s a joy to hear the band let loose and play the music they love.

Live albums can always be hit or miss with their production.  This album has a fantastic live mix.  The guitars keep the energy from the studio album, but the drums and bass feel more prominent than ever.  It’s probably as close to an accurate representation of the band’s live sound that you can get with a recording. 

Manchester Orchestra will always be one of my all-time favorite bands. Honestly, Andy could sing the phone book and I’d still listen. I’m excited to see how the band continues to evolve over the years. But for now, I’m grateful to have this live album to transport me back to that night in 2014 when I first fell in love with them.

Click here to buy/stream the album.


written by Bryan Williams