The Wildhearts, Manchester Academy. 3rd May 2019

I love The Wildhearts and this is just what I needed after feeling like death warmed up all day. It’s a mixed bag set though, the trouble with The Wildhearts is the first three albums are absolutely outstanding... but the rest, not so much. The newer stuff falls flat a little and I’m reminded that my throat feels like I’ve been gargling razor blades, much like the one that Ginger wears around his neck. The old stuff though, well that’s a different matter. That’s the stuff that makes you forget your sore throat, aching bones, what day it is, where you are, the current political fuckwittery, everything but these beautifully brutal punk pop masterpieces. Bizarrely mid-set they attempt to film some clips for their new single, to which they proceed to mime along to, I kid you not. One of the weirdest things I’ve seen at a gig and not something I’d recommend anyone do, it was a joke. So not perfect, but still kept me away from my deathbed for a couple of hours.