LIVE REVIEW: Stand Atlantic @ The Star & Garter, Manchester

Australia’s STAND ATLANTIC make their return to the UK touring in support of their stunning debut album Skinny Dipping. Bringing their pop-punk bops to Manchester’s Star & Garter, the feel-good energy was infectious and spirits were high even before the venue’s doors opened. With heavy hitters SHADED and IN HER OWN WORDS tasked with getting the pop-punk party started on what can only be described as a truly stacked bill, the cohort of eager fans are in for an unforgettable night of fun, positive vibes, and a slew of incredible musical performances.

Kicking the night off to an already packed venue was Surry trio SHADED. If you haven’t heard of these guys yet, there’s no doubt you soon will – probably when they’re gracing the covers of music magazines and headlining high-profile tours in the not-so-distant future. From the very beginning of their set, the band paired their utterly captivating stage presence with the pop-punk brilliance from their debut EP and delivered a performance that nobody in attendance will hastily forget. SHADED‘s own brand of catchy, fun, and stylistically watertight pop-punk could easily give the heavyweights of the genre a run for their money and challenge their throne. Look out WATERPARKS, there’s a new challenger approaching.

Rating: 8/10

Keeping the night’s momentum going was the second and final support act IN HER OWN WORDS. 2019 is shaping up to be a good year for the band, with April 12th seeing the release of the band’s third studio album Steady Glow. Opening with their tried-and-tested track Silver Lights and following with Serotonin from their upcoming release, the band got the set off to a blistering start. Right from the outset, the whole room unified, bouncing from wall-to-wall, and singing their hearts out. With the crowd now positively buzzing, the band capped their set off with wonderfully uplifting Right Now, another track from their upcoming album. From beginning to end, IN HER OWN WORDS‘ set bred an atmosphere of togetherness and was bursting at the seams with an infectious sense of fun which perfectly primed the room for the main act.

Rating: 7/10

With the atmosphere at the room reaching its peak, STAND ATLANTIC took to the stage to a unified cheer from the capacity venue. Opening with Bullfrog from their debut studio album, it was obvious that the band were in top form. The response from the room was an immediate eruption of energy, a multitude of crowd surfers sailing towards the stage, and inflatable kangaroos and aliens being launched in every direction.

Hearing the material from Skinny Dipping played so deftly within a live environment as lively as this takes the tracks to a totally new level than that of the studio versions. Seeing the way the high energy songs radiate positivity that permeates the entire room truly shows the sheer power STAND ATLANTIC‘s music has. Their live show is the kind of show that has the power to make those in attendance forget about the problems within their everyday lives and bond together with a room full of strangers through the unifying energy of the music.

Marking the midway point of the set came the mournfully reflective Toothpick. Vocalist/guitarist Bonnie Fraser explained the meaning behind the track as a metaphor for the pain caused by a particularly bad breakup from her past, and the closest thing she could liken the feeling to was putting a toothpick under your fingernail and slamming it into a wall.

Ending the night on a high note, the band ended their set with the opening track from Skinny Dipping; Lavender Bones. This proved to be the perfect song to end a night filled with positivity and togetherness, and cap-off this experience of temporary escapism from the daily grind. STAND ATLANTIC are a feel-good band in every sense of the term – and this was a set that embodied that feeling to the full. No matter what hell you could be experiencing in your daily life, if STAND ATLANTIC are in town you’ll be offered a fleeting moment of respite and overwhelming positivity which will carry you through the tough times with a resolute feeling of hope.

Rating: 8/10

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