Puressence, Manchester Academy. 2nd May 2026

I’ll be honest, this is a gamble. I was hooked in the mid-90s after someone put the first two Puressence singles on a mixtape for me, but aside that first album, I’ve never really dug deeper and really I’m here tonight just to hear ‘I Suppose’, which is perhaps a bit daft, but it’s one of my favourite all time songs. I’ve never seen them live, they’ve not played much over the last 15 years (mostly due to splitting up), but when I saw this gig announced, I felt drawn. So here we are in the big black box that is, a sold out and rammed Manchester Academy. I find a nice pocket down the front for the start, but with a plan to move back as we go on. This feels like a gig I want to take easy, possibly due to still recovering after IST IST last night. They take to the stage to a rapturous roar and I think this is gonna be okay. My big fear was James’ voice, but it’s still there and then some. I’ve zero frame of reference to the past but he sounds amazing with that falsetto warble and the atmosphere in the room is instantly hyper. I thought ‘I Suppose’ might come early and it does, sounding every bit as magnificent as I’d hoped. James sounds great, the band sound great, the crowd sound great. It’s utterly glorious and I could easily walk out right now and be happy. It’s a clear high point for me and predictably nothing else quite matches it. There’s a lot I’m not familiar with of course and some songs hit a heavier, dirtier tone. I’m not as keen, even on the crowd pleasing stompers, James just doesn’t sound as good. He sounds better on ‘How Does it Feel’, but the song doesn’t grab me and I lose some of that early enthusiasm and never really get it back. Granted the crowd help, calling back lyrics and the distorted guitars sound pretty epic. It’s a very up and down set though. They sound best on stuff like ‘Standing in Your Shadow’. It suits James’ delivery better, giving him space to soar. He’s up on the monitors directing the masses. I don’t think I was expecting this level of devotion, but the singing from the crowd on ‘All Want’ says it all. It’s word perfect and I think I’m the only one not joining in, which probably makes me look like a miserable bastard. ‘Never Be the Same Again’ is a bit more indie standard, but does pack some venom. They’re so much better when they ease off though, finding a different kind of power in the groove. There’s not too much to the stage set up, they’re a straight up indie four piece, and I do find myself distracted by the archive movie clips projected behind them on the screen, with not much aside James to hold attention. Grabbing some water and shifting my vantage point I can confirm that the entire room is chocker though, the quickest way to get from one side to the other being to go outside! So although I’m not bowled over by the set, there’s obviously an adoring fanbase, many of whom I’m guessing will return for their Sound of the City set in Castlefield this summer. Nestled back in near the sound desk, they sound just as good further into the room, but these songs are losing me. I’m not the only one, there’s a halt due to someone needing help down the front. It is fucking hot to be fair and after watching 3 people drop around me at James the other week, I’m starting to think this issue needs addressing more. Hydrate people. Gigs really aren’t the best place to drink a ton of beer and jump around with your coat on. As we break the hour, the baggy swagger of ‘Walking Dead’ drags me back in, but it’s only momentary. I’m not saying they’re bad, they sound great, it’s just that most of these songs don’t excite me. I knew this might be the case and truthfully the gamble didn’t pay off. I’m in the minority though. What I assume are the big hitters due to the crowd response, all pack a punch as the set reaches its finale and I’m impressed with James’ voice which has a lot of work to do and handles it brilliantly. ‘This Feeling’ comes out in the encore and does make me think I’m being overly harsh. The aging crowd are flagging, but at least half the room have their arms aloft. It’s a good gig, I’m glad I came, it really was worth it for ‘I Suppose’ alone.