LIVE REVIEW: Zebrahead @ Academy 3, Manchester

In 2019, twenty-one years after their debut album, ZEBRAHEAD released their thirteenth studio album Brain Invaders and proved that they’re still a band at the very top of their game. Having to contend with line-up changes, style changes, and the shifting tastes of the masses has only seen the band continue to thrive, and where most bands would have simply faded away, ZEBRAHEAD have cemented their place amongst the likes of BLINK-182, SUM 41 and GREEN DAY as pop punk royalty. On the final European date of the Brain Invaders tour, the band bring the pop punk party to Manchester for a night full of new hits and old favourites that was utterly unmissable for every fan of the genre.

The first and only support act were British new-bloods THE BOTTOM LINE. With American accents as authentic as a Gucci bag bought from a market stall and every tired trope you’d expect from a modern pop punk band, THE BOTTOM LINE took to the stage to dish out a mixture of their heavily late 90s/early 2000s influenced tracks plucked from their surprisingly broad discography.

Despite having formed almost nine years ago and being on a number of tours with the likes of SIMPLE PLAN and WATERPARKS, the band’s onstage presence felt uncomfortable and unnatural, with the band brandishing transparent smiles and movement that felt wooden, like someone with a rifle was standing in the wings forcing them to perform. While this might just be a symptom of lethargy when approaching the closing date of a tour, it was clear that in trying to get the atmosphere charged for the headliners, THE BOTTOM LINE were attempting to do the work of two bands and falling somewhat short of what was expected of them.

Rating: 6/10

With the support act failing to kick-start the evening with a bang, ZEBRAHEAD were essentially taking to the stage in front of a cold room. As soon as the intro tape started (“America, fuck yeah” from Team America: World Police) and the band took to the stage, everything leading up to this moment was erased and the atmosphere shifted into a state of pure excitement. Kicking their set off with All My Friends Are Nobodies from their latest album, the room suddenly erupted with everyone expelling their pent up excitement in a fervent display of pure joy.

ZEBRAHEAD have every aspect of being a great live act absolutely nailed down: stage presence, stunning musicality, and great between-song banter that all converge to make their live set a true musical marvel. Their music, from the band’s early days to now, transports you to the true golden age of pop punk in a way that not many bands can. That’s not to say that they have a ‘dated’ sound, far from it, the band possess an incredible knack to breathe new life into the genre and to produce new music that feels fresh while also having a strong air of nostalgia.

The way in which ZEBRAHEAD approached their set was unlike the way the vast majority of bands do. From start to finish, the set didn’t feel like the band were just simply going from song-to-song, ploughing through a setlist in a very formulaic manner. The whole show was exactly that: a show. From little ad-libbed intros to songs, excellent back-and-forths between the band and the crowd, to bringing a member of the crowd up to help sing the entirety of Worse Than This – ZEBRAHEAD‘s shows break down the invisible barriers between band and audience and create a party atmosphere in its truest form.

From the first song to the very last, so many people in the room were singing along that it made the few who chose not to the obvious odd ones out. It didn’t matter if it was the bands most well-known tracks, their latest tracks, or deep cuts, every word was being passionately sung by people of all ages that made up the crowd. Even the myriad of crowdsurfers slowly but surely surfing their way to the front barrier didn’t fail in singing every single word until being grabbed by security.

Everything about ZEBRAHEAD‘s set more than proves why they have managed to sustain a career longer than the majority of their contemporaries. Combining their incredible musical tact and their vast, impressive back catalogue with their inherent live expertise, the band create a live show that even the most veteran bands would be hard-pressed to match. Even after more than twenty years, ZEBRAHEAD are still releasing music that rivals (possibly even surpasses) what fans consider their best, and playing live shows that leave absolutely nothing in reserve. ZEBRAHEAD should be considered one of the best live acts pop punk has ever seen and if you get the chance to go to a show you’ll see why.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in Manchester from Sarah Sidwell Photography here: