PINS, The Lottery Winners, Indigo Velvet, Working Mens Club, NIAMOS. 8th March 2019

A mixed bag of bands for tonight’s gig at the awesome NIAMOS, an old theatre reopened in Hulme. I’m told The Beatles played here and it really is a lovely space. Not all the bands were up to scratch though, Indigo Velvet from Scotland are the weirdest dressed bunch of lads I’ve seen on a stage in some time. Sadly they sound just as shit as their clothes. The same can’t be said for Lottery Winners, this lot have to be one of the most fun live bands around. Lead singer Thom is an absolute riot. Where most new bands manage a few hello’s and how you doing’s this fella would rival most stand-ups! It’s not all comedy though, this lot are tight, kicking out furious power pop and it’s a joy to watch. Sing-a-longs with a crowd that don’t know the songs is usually a recipe for disaster, but not for Thom as he whips the crowd into shape and has us all in the palm of his hand. The headliners are PINS and are an altogether different beast. A dirge of brutal electro tinged roadhouse rock. A twang and menace that would excite David Lynch, they’re pretty good. For me though the best band of the night were Working Mens Club who opened preceding, sounding something like Happy Monday’s smashed together with Velvet Underground. They were awesome, right up me street and worth the admission alone. Hopefully this venue will find its feet as I’d love to come back. If someone could pay the heating bill though, it was so cold I could see my breath!