Sports Team, Manchester Academy, 2nd October 2021

What do you get if you take The 1990s, add some White Denim and maybe even a bit of Art Brut and The Libertines. Well you’d probably get a bloody mess to be honest. Sports Team aren’t a mess, but I’m not an expert here as you’ll see. If I’m being honest, I bought this ticket ages ago and forgot about them. Sorry lads. I listened to the record again earlier this week and was a bit underwhelmed. Sorry again, but stick with me because I listened straight through a second time and bang I was back in the room. I think Sports Team might be one of those bands that grows on you. Live it’s different, the joy is much more immediate. I’m a bit knackered though. This is the third gig night on the bounce and I was convinced it was at Albert Hall, where there’s seats. Thankfully I checked this morning and found it’d been moved to The Academy, which doesn’t have seats. So there’s nothing else to do but go for it with everyone else! Or try, I’m a little over the average age in here and it’s nearly sold out with more kids than I’ve seen at a gig in some time. Anyway, Sports Team. I’m impressed. Not least that The Academy is a decent size and they’ve got it going off right from the get go. Beer flying, confetti canons (did someone shoot too soon?), the band are clearly a bit taken aback. Such is the battering I’ve given the album this week, I’m convinced I’ve heard all my favourites after only a few songs, only to be blown away again and again as the songs keep coming. The Academy isn’t always the best place to see bands and this really would’ve been spectacular in Albert Hall. They’re clearly too big already though, this would be carnage in a smaller space. Instead it’s utterly glorious. Hands in the air singalongs, most of the crowd bouncing enough to clearly illustrate that those saying that younger audiences don’t like live rock music are talking complete bollocks. Aside the singer (sorry Google his name), the band don’t move or engage that much, but the lad with the mic does more than enough to keep the show firmly on the road and before long I’m down the front bouncing around and putting my dodgy knee through its paces (I’m not trying to make myself sound that old honest). After an hour they’re done. They don’t have that many songs yet, but it’s more than enough. I will NOT be forgetting Sports Team again. Sorry lads. Oh and there was more confetti.