“ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE HEADLINE SHOWS EVER” : ONLY THE POETS IN MANCHESTER

LIVE REVIEW | ONLY THE POETS | GORILLA, MANCHESTER 26/08/24 by Martha Munro

When the red lights snapped on at Gorilla in Manchester on 26th August, the buzzing crowd knew exactly what was coming – Tommy Longhurst, Clem Cherry, Andy “Roo” Burge and Marcus Yates: Only The Poets. This rising, raving pop group has been climbing ladders and breaking their own boundaries over the past few years. The band gained a huge new following after supporting Louis Tomlinson on his 2022 world tour and, since then, have only reached new heights and hearts. And everyone’s heart was most certainly in it when Only The Poets took to the stage, band and crowd alike. In front man Tommy Longhurst’s own words: “one of our favourite headline shows ever”.

Supporting Only The Poets was Scottish singer-songwriter Kerr Mercer, a clear budding talent with an effortlessly enchanting voice and a handful of equally beautiful songs waiting to be released, as well as a well-received cover of the hit song Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter. He played the keyboard alongside acoustic-guitarist Adam Frame, creating a stripped-back feel that just elevated each word sung. The heartbreak and hurt in every lyric could be physically felt in the raw reach of Mercer’s James-Arthur-esque vocals and was pocketed with his own light-hearted remarks about the depressing nature of the music between songs. The venue itself was very intimate, holding around 520 people, but it was clear that even in the largest of rooms, Mercer would achieve that same level of closeness, comfort and warmth. Such a stunning talent and warm character was exciting to see – Kerr Mercer is going far. And it’s starting with his first UK headline tour in October of this year!

Despite Gorilla’s relatively small size, there was zero pushing and shoving, fainting scares or any kind of unpleasantness. These might seem like the most basic things but, as anyone who’s been to a gig post-lockdown will know, they’re rare things to find all together. This was down to the friendliness that could be felt from when the doors opened right up until everyone was heading home. Between the support act and the headline act, friends sat in circles, new fans chatted with old and the whole crowd joined in to sing along with the pre-show playlist, building up the anticipatory atmosphere all by themselves: a wonderful, welcoming fanbase.

And that feeling of togetherness was only heightened by the entrance of Only The Poets. It was clear from their opening number Crash that the crowd really did know every word and fed off the boundless energy frontman Tommy Longhurst brought to the stage, dancing and singing directly to the front row of adoring fans. There were several fan traditions throughout the set, from hand gestures to chants, making the gig that bit more special, that bit more promising of even more followers and traditions to come.

The tracks played from the band’s latest EP One More Night were clearly all fan-favourites, such as the third live number I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend, powered by Burge’s thumping bass, Cherry’s exquisite guitar highlights and the fans’ floor-bouncing enthusiasm; during Gone By Now, also from this EP, Burge was smiling with every pluck at this insurmountable energy created. Yates responded on the drums too, smashing through All This Time to power the number and the whole band. It’s safe to say that they were having an absolute blast.

But this show was by no means just one thing, just a single-faceted blitz of mosh-madness. The energy never left, but instead transformed into awe as the group performed the more heartfelt number It’s Okay (Not To Be Okay). And this sense of emotional closeness was brought to its height later on when Longhurst and Cherry stepped off the stage with just an acoustic guitar and microphone in hand to actually enter the crowd for an acoustic performance. The crowd responded immediately and helpfully, forming a circle in the centre and ensuring everyone could see the charming duo and soak in the intimacy they clearly intended to achieve. And what a special moment it was for the performers and awe-filled audience members alike; the duo performed their heartbreak ballad Black and Blue, a track beloved by fans but only available on the physical vinyl, CD and tape versions of the One More Night EP – until now. Longhurst announced that the song will be released on streaming platforms very soon. But the fans had no problem singing the lyrics loud; a respectful silence covered the crowd until Longhurst gestured for them to join in. When they did, the immediate power of the chorus filled the room with sound and voice, making this in-pit moment one that every attendee will most certainly remember being a part of.

Following this, it was as if the gig had a second act. Just as they did at the very beginning of the show, the lights performed their own number, flickering and changing colour as the music built up on the empty stage. The band members soon returned to rapturous applause, beginning again with just the drums and bass, soon joined by guitar and voice to start the fast-paced number Even Hell, bringing the atmosphere right back to that soul-freeing energy. JUMP!, the well-selected final song before the encore, brought each scrap of wildness to its unanimous height, with every person in the place bouncing until the very end, seeing off the band with sweat and screams.

For a final time, Only The Poets took to the stage after a mini-light show, with streaming beams of colour and teasers of songs introducing them for a final three songs. One More Night, one of the group’s most streamed songs to date, was the first, with Cherry’s guitar spotlighted throughout and every member crowding around the drumkit to give the tune an almighty finish. Ceasefire, an early track, was up next and had everyone’s phone-torch up and waving before the calamitous closer, Emotional: a final, mosh-pitted goodbye before the lights came up.

But the band promised they wouldn’t be long gone. Longhurst hinted at, after a short break, new music that will ‘flip Only The Poets on its f*cking head’, a new era that will surpass even the euphoria that filled the crowd on this special night of fun, friends and fired-up live music.

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