Ozric Tentacles & Gong, Manchester Academy. 26th November 2022

The last time I saw Ozrics it was their Electronic incarnation without the full band. It was good… but I missed the live drums and noodley guitars. All that is back tonight and it’s glorious. That rolling bass guitar locked in with the drums, it’s pure and transportive. Apparently Tim on drums is new, you wouldn’t know it, they play together like this has always been the way. Ed’s guitar sublime and shredding in perfect balance. When he lets loose following a blissful flute passage, it’s impossible not to get lost. I can’t think of anyone that can play quite like Ed. “We’ll now peel ourselves off the ceiling after that and see where we go next”. I really couldn’t put it better Ed. The video projection is a kaleidoscope of shapes, pulsating dogs snouts and dancing mushrooms. It’s wonderfully trippy and the only downside is it’s so packed in here I can’t dance. I need to see them in a field again somewhere soon. I mean how are you supposed to stay still for ‘Kick Muck’? Things get proper loose and funky on ‘Its a Hup Ho World’, the flute is back and the entire band and possibly room seem to take off. It’s not all perfect, there’s a ridiculous amount of people with their phones out filming, not short clips either, entire songs… and Ozrics songs are long! It just goes to show even hippies can be pricks. They close with a tricked out version of ‘Sploosh’. A fan fave it gives those who luckily like myself, have worked a bit of space, a chance to dance. They play for about an hour and it’s as near perfect an hour as I’ve ever heard from them. We’re not done though. This is a joint headline tour and tonight Ozrics are opening for Gong. I’ll be honest, I’m a big Ozrics fan, but never really got into Gong. This might seem a bit odd as they’re clearly an influence. Gong are one of those bands that have been around since the 70s and although there are no original members left, the name and music has been passed down through generations of members. A bit like Tangerine Dream and maybe one day Ozrics. This is a nice idea, that the music lives on with some authenticity. Half the crowd have left, which is utterly nuts, but it does make the room more comfortable. It’s a simpler sound, albeit capable of just as much punch. There’s no synths for starters and it’s much more psychedelic, with the occasional trippy verse. I’m all for the extended wig outs though and there are plenty in between the majestic soundscapes conjured throughout. I can’t name any songs. This isn’t about distinctions though. As singer Kavus says “Ever since you popped out and put on this fleshy outfit, everything has brought you to this moment and here we are”. He’s a bit of a character. Wild hair and a star filled satin shirt, whose eyes pop from their sockets when they’re about to lock in to something ferocious. Boy when then do it’s good. It gets a bit batshit in places and these are the times that on record they lose me a little. Live though it’s fantastic. ‘Rejoice’ is particularly good, as its poppy intro gives way to something much more interesting. Forever building from solos to a full on band assault, before looping back into a jazzy coda. The room does fill up again. It feels like every tie dye fan in Manchester is here for what is a pretty cool gig experience. I’m not totally sold on Gong. They’re good live and well worth catching, but Ozrics will forever have my heart.