The Lottery Winners, The Ritz, 25th September 2021

I get asked what kind of music I’m into a lot and the answer has always been everything, all sorts, anything. The truth though is although I hop across a lot of genres, I do gravitate towards the darker sounds, minor chords, aggressive beats, poignant lyrics. Not always, there are exceptions and Lottery Winners are one of those exceptions. Tonight even more so. We’re here to celebrate. This sold out homecoming show was originally to mark the release of a fantastic second album, one that followed an equally fantastic debut. Since then thanks to lockdown that second album now feels like it’s been around for ages and there’s a third one recorded and released during the absence of gigs. Plus a fourth just around the corner (pre-order it now). These songs feel timeless though, so it doesn’t matter now that gigs are back and the band can blast through a now even bigger catalogue of killer pop tunes. That’s what Lottery Winners specialise in. Hooky, singalong pop stompers. ‘Headlock’ states their intention from the start, to blow the roof off The Ritz! This is a very different Lottery Winners to the one we left pre-covid though. The songs are still bangers, but everyone’s caught on now. A sold out Ritz can barely contain itself, but the gig wankers have arrived too. I’m a gig wanker magnet. There’s 1500 people in here, but the most obnoxious prick is still stood right in front of me. It’s a testament to this band that even he can’t spoil tonight. It feels special as they pound through the hits. They’re not hits, but every one feels like it should be. The smiles from the stage say it all, but I’m pretty sure everyone in here has a face splitting grin. Even the gig wanker that I poor the dregs of my pint on and stealthfully ease away. The sound and atmosphere is electric as the room heats to strip down to your pants temperatures and Thom drums the crowd into a fervour. It’s gig perfection. Worth waiting all these months for, I’ve “Never felt more alive”. Come set close with the now classic ‘21’, the ribbon canons go off and the crowd drown out the vocals from the stage. It’s everything a live performance should be. Lottery Winners have made it.