LIVE REVIEW: Touché Amoré @ Gorilla, Manchester

It’s a Saturday night in Manchester and Gorilla is hosting tonight’s event. On the back of their excellent sixth album, Spiral In A Straight Line, LA post-hardcore band TOUCHÉ AMORÉ make their way through Manchester as part of their mammoth forty nine date tour with a show full of old songs and new. They laid waste to the small sweaty venue in a night of post-hardcore anthems, unity and sweaty mosh pits. 

Kicking off proceedings for the night are Brighton screamo band, CHALK HANDS who bring a “post-everything” set of songs for a short opening slot that melt the faces of everyone who arrived early to watch them. Slow and loud songs pummel our eardrums and set the tone for the rest of the night. There aren’t any mosh pits to be seen but the crowd politely nod their heads along to the music. CHALK HANDS however do show a lot of promise throughout their set, they released their debut album back in 2022, yet whatever they release next is sure to be something to check out, they can only go up from here. 

Rating: 7/10 

Following on from CHALK HANDS are the main support for tonight, TRAUMA RAY. The tone is very much different compared to what came before. The tempo of the evening slowed right down as TRAUMA RAY steadily made their way through a forty five minute set of shoegaze rock music which felt more like a ninety minute set. Whilst watching you’re willing them to be good, and although musically they are very talented, the lack of singing and audience interaction makes for a very dour set that has you begging for TOUCHÉ AMORÉ to take to the stage. 

Rating: 6/10

At 8:20 sharp, the night’s headliners TOUCHÉ AMORÉ finally take to the stage for what will be a night to remember. As the majority of the crowd looked to be well into their thirties, tonight’s show lasted no longer than an hour, a sigh of relief to everyone’s knees and backs amidst the chaotic nature of the show. Jeremy Bolm and co take to the stage and instantly launch into the fray delivering back to back hits starting with Nobody’s, Art Official and Nine. As soon as the first notes hit, the crowd parted like the sea and turned the tiny venue that is Gorilla into a battleground of sweaty bodies slamming against each other like there was no tomorrow. As the quintet powered through the set, the singalongs in the crowd reached fever pitch, matching the energy of Bolm who used the momentum to deliver one hell of a performance. 

Whilst there were many highlights throughout the night, the first highlight of the evening went to the incredible track Reminders off the equally incredible album Lament. Once again the ante is upped as the crowd is full of crowd surfers making their way on stage to be with the band for a fleeting second before launching themselves back into the skirmish in front of the stage. At what feels like 100mph, TOUCHÉ AMORÉ power through And Now It’s Happening In Mine and Uppers/Downers. Come Heroine and Hal Ashby inspire more mass by singing along, at this point the gig is only half way through with still plenty of juice left in the tank.

One of the most impressive aspects of the show was the energy that the band had. From start to finish, the show doesn’t slow down one bit as Bolm’s voice stays intact throughout the intense vocals that are on show. The show is an all you can eat buffet of bonafide TOUCHÉ AMORÉ hits, it’s almost impossible to pick a favourite song of the night but when songs like New Halloween, Disasters and Pathfinder are on show, you know you’re watching something truly special unfold. 

As the show winds down towards its end, Force Of Habit, Flowers And You and Limelight bring the proceedings to a victorious close. The crowd leave battered and bruised but ear to ear grins on their face from the cathartic nature of the show. Even TOUCHÉ AMORÉ feel like this show was special, bands always say they love the city they’re playing in, but their adulation towards Manchester comes across as genuine as they explain to the audience that coming to Manchester is always a special occasion, for everyone there it was. It was the perfect escapism for an increasingly uneasy time in the world and for one hour, TOUCHÉ AMORÉ allowed everyone to dance the night away, post-hardcore style. It was truly a night to remember. 

Rating: 9/10

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

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