Belle and Sebastian, Manchester Academy. 21st July 2023

The last time I saw Belle and Sebastian was I think 8 years ago in Albert Hall. For reasons I won’t bore you with now, my head wasn’t in the game that night and so I feel like I’ve some unfinished business here tonight. They’ve moved up to the slightly larger but less grand surroundings of The Academy and sold it out with ease with a rather pleasant crowd as perhaps you’d expect. Belle and Sebastian after all are a nice band playing music aren’t they. Polite applause greets them on stage. Raucous it’s not as they ease in with ‘Nobody’s Empire’ and everyone stands considerately still. ‘Allie’ has a bit more bounce and wallop, but I’m wondering how many people in here know it. There’s not much movement. I’ll admit there are some large gaps in my back catalogue knowledge. I’m not familiar with ‘So in the Moment’ that sees Stuart take backing vocals and shadow box dance around a bit. It’s from the new record that I’ve only listened to once, but this one apparently didn’t stand out. ‘She’s Losing It’ wakes everyone up a bit after Stuart asks “So what do you want to hear?” It’s lovely, but the twee sound feels a bit lacking in this soulless box. I’m pretty central in the room I’d expect a better sound in The Academy. All that said ‘Dirty Dream Number Two’ sounds wonderful, Sarah singing and those soft synths layering underneath. It’s perhaps not the sound you’d associate with them, but that only proves the depth they have. As if to hammer my point, they follow with ‘Piazza, New York Catcher’ with that driving chorus that sounds like The Dandy Warhol’s with less drugs. Stuart up on his piano stool teeter dancing. The stage is bathed in red for ‘If You’re Feeling Sinister’ and it’s here I’ll make an admission. I think I prefer them on record. I don’t feel connected. It’s probably me. It’s certainly not them, they’re really good, but as nice as they sound my mind is wandering and that’s not normal for me. As if to shut me down though, as I’m thinking this, Stuart invites us all to go dancing after the gig with Richard DJing at Yes and they launch into another new one ‘When You’re Not With Me’. I recognise this one though, it’s a bit of a disco banger and sounds awesome. Perhaps I really shouldn’t be too quick to judge. “We’re gonna play a country and western song for you, but it’s a fast country and western song”, ‘The Wrong Girl’ despite the promise of pace does lose me a bit once more. There’s an interlude with a little ‘The Boys Are Back I’m Town’ audience participation before ‘Your Cover’s Blown’’s funk and cowbells gets heads bobbing with Stuart delighting those down the front as he ventures off the stage. He’s an enigmatic frontman, humble and friendly, with as much ease chatting as he is singing. ‘The Fox in the Snow’ sounds lush, with mock snow falling on the projection behind them, but it’s not really until ‘The Boy With the Arab Strap’ gets unleashed that the room really comes alive. The stage filling with fans that have been invited up, who it must be said all look remarkably young. Not representative of the blokes in glasses and stripy shirts at the back. It is a mixed crowd though and a mixed set, that perhaps isn’t aimed at me, the more fair weather fan. The party continues for ‘The Blues Are Still Blue” with the set admittedly now feeling that it’s riding a high. Stuart really is lovely. “I think this is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had in Manchester” but there’s a sense he knows half the crowd by name too. Sophia has apparently requested ‘Me and the Major’ which is a good choice and a nice set closer. Before they slowly capture the crowd back with ‘My Wandering Days Are Over’ in the encore. It’s a bit slower and the beer is getting to some of the less devout folks at the back. Everyone’s back in the room for ‘Another Sunny Day’. The girl in front of me is word perfect and goes bonkers doing jazz hands to anyone who’s suitably pumped up. Aside Stuart the whole band seem lovely (I've overused that word I know but it suits them well). Relaxed, comfortable and confident. It’s a joy to watch bands like this. With songs like ‘Lazy Line Painter Jane’ and although I get lost in places. I’m left smiling after a 2 hour celebration of a band that should be more appreciated than they are. I include myself in that. I need to delve deeper into this band… and try and catch them in a smaller room.