LIVE REVIEW: New Years Day @ Club Academy, Manchester

NEW YEARS DAY are bringing all kinds of hell on their latest tour, The Skeletons Tour, armed and ready for another round of crowd insanity as they bang out hits from their 2019 Unbreakable, supported by the likes of CALL ME AMOUR and LOWLIVES.

CALL ME AMOUR set the night into motion with an unstoppable performance. First bands can suffer the openers curse, but the London four-piece used their vivacious personalities to power through the performance. Though they’ve been kicking around for over a decade, the band radiate that same eagerness of a young band and treat every performance as if it’s their first.

Rating: 8/10

Moshpits had already emerged before LOWLIVES followed up with an equally exciting performance that had every guitar lick scorching into the floorboards. LOWLIVES are still fresh-faced to the scene, and yet they’re soaring towards success at a phenomenal rate. Their grudging punk rock style that gives a call back to 90’s grunge is easy to love and makes for an insane crowd rapport in its live performances.

Rating: 8/10

Opening with the outrageous Come For Me, NEW YEARS DAY pounced into the room with an almighty thrust of pure, chaotic energy. The song itself is a dominating track, and with their charismatic Ash Costello behind the microphone, it became almost too easy to captivate the crowd.

NEW YEARS DAY have a reputable career of insane stage performances and the band themselves lean into their personal aesthetics which make shows more visually appeasing and open the band up to a diverse crowd. The California four-piece has an intoxicating stage presence that’s hard to keep your eyes off as all of them bounce around the room and pour every ounce of energy they have into their last sweat droplet.

The setlist itself was favourable to the highlights in their career but obviously pandered to their latest album, 2019’s Unbreakable. Still, the unmissable hits like Angel Eyes or Killed Or Be Killed made their way to the setlist, along with some covers including their iconic Punk Goes Pop version of Gangsta and another cover, this time of PANTERA’s song Fucking Hostile. After so many years of performing it would seem obvious for the band to just play to favourites, but this setlist seems to be catered to what the band just loves to play and overall makes it even more exciting watching them genuinely enjoy themselves and their work.

NEW YEARS DAY have been a pivotal band for many people growing up in the early 2010s, being fronted by a woman had the band fighting for validity in a sexist climate for years and being a group unafraid to express themselves both visually and in their songs, many relate to their struggles and find a solace in their shows. This is what makes NEW YEARS DAY show so unique, the crowd itself is so diverse and accepting that there’s a comfort of going to just be yourself. Anyone who’s ever been outcasted or shunned for who they are should find themselves at a NEW YEARS DAY show, you’ll be greeted with open arms and free to have a good time.

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Manchester from Polarise Visuals here: