In the current climate when money is scarce and choices have to be made where we spend our hard earned cash, then a great offer is what’s needed. Well, I love a buy one get one free offer, but buy one get 2 free is something not to be missed. When that offer involves Dare, FM and Tyketto then that’s the bargain of the decade… That decade being the 80s.
“It’s a bit early for a rock show, but you sound ready”, Danny Vaughan proclaims as he takes the stage. You bet Manchester is, it was packed for the very early 7.30pm start but Tyketto took Manchester by the scruff of the neck. What a great band he has got together Chris Child on Bass from Thunder, new boy Harry Scott Elliot from Chez Kane band on guitar and Jonny D on drums who was in Waysted with Danny. Opening with ‘Reach’ before going straight into the awesome ‘Wings’ which always gets the crowd singing along, including super fan Chez Kane on the front barrier singing every word.
Maybe the biggest cheer of the set was when Danny explained that Jonny D and he had played in a band that was a UK institution, Waysted. Then proceeded to play the awesome track ‘Heaven Tonight’ which went down a storm a great tribute to the legend that was Pete Way.
A must play song of any Tyketto show and a song that was never meant to be on Tyketto album, but when they needed another song for the album ‘Don’t Come Easy’, it was recorded and so glad they did, the awesome ‘Standing Alone’. Finishing their set with the awesome ‘Forever Young’, a one hour set from Tyketto is never enough, but when it is delivered with such quality and energy one cannot feel short changed. Tyketto rocked the Manchester Academy tonight what a band and what a voice Danny has a stunning performance.
Next up, we have the mighty FM, who I have seen many times and tonight they were exceptional coming on with ‘Synchronized’ from the 2020 album of the same name, with Jem Davis on keyboards particularly shining on this one, he really let rip, it was good to see him in good health and sporting one of his Jem says F**k Cancer T-shirts. What a start to the show. There was no messing around chatting from Steve Overland just class song after class song. ‘I Belong to the Night’ just shows how great a vocalist Steve is, one of the best he was outstanding on this song as he was all night.
Jim Kirkpatrick gave a stellar performance on guitar, he can really rock it up when needed and the twin guitar with Steve is sublime. The chunky riff that Jim plays in ‘Tough It Out’ really gets you grooving and some great backing vocals too. Check out his solo albums too, they really are great.
What can be said of the rhythm section of Merv Goldsworthy on bass and Pete Jupp on drums, they are the powerhouse of FM and drive it along with such style and precision. Other highlights were ‘Someday’ from ‘Tough It Out’, which Steve says is a killer to sing so stop voting for it to be in the set and of course ‘Bad Luck’.
A couple of tracks from ‘Indiscreet’ made into this short hour set ‘I belong to the Night’ and ‘That Girl’. It was great to hear a new song from their latest album ‘Thirteen’, ‘Turn this Car Around’, it really shows that FM still can write great songs, what a storming set. A master class in AOR FM never put a foot wrong perfection indeed.
Final band of the night was Dare and even though Steve Overland stated he only lived down the road. It was definitely a home gig for the Dare boys. From the first song ‘Born in the Storm’ from the 2022 album ‘Road to Eden’ you knew this was party night for them. ‘Cradle to the Grave’ followed with Darren Wharton announcing it was good to be home and indeed it was.
‘Home’ and ‘Until’ from ‘Sacred Ground’ followed. ‘Road to Eden’ with a beautiful Celtic feel was next and what a song it is, big and majestic. Darren announced that he needed the Manchester crowd to help him reach the high notes on ‘Wings of Fire’, the next song and boy did they sing along. ‘We Don’t Need a Reason’ from the excellent 1991 album ‘Blood from Stone’ was great to hear again.
Into the final four songs of the night all from their 1988 Amazing debut album, starting with their first ever single ‘Abandon’ which received the loudest applause of the night. ‘Into the Fire’ and the wonderful ‘King of Spades’ dedicated to the wonderful Philip Lynott who Darren Wharton played with on the ‘Thunder and Lightning’ album and tour. ‘Return the Heart’ closed the show and what an epic night it has been. Dare were epic tonight, as were all the bands.
What a night of great music and such a friendly atmosphere one hour sets from each band and they all delivered at full bore. The venue was packed from the very start right till the very end. I didn’t see one person arrive late or leave early and why would you. As I chatted with Merv from FM afterwards, he said this tour was a risk, all the three bands manage themselves, there was no promotion done other than that through their own social media. But what a success it was and it shows what the power of great music and three awesome bands can do and I for one salute that.
With thanks to Danny Vaughan and Claire from Central Press PR for the media access.
