YUCK performed at The Deaf Institute in Manchester last night. Quays News entertainment reporter Amy Williams went along…

The Deaf institute always has this cool ambiance; whether that’s the disco ball reflecting the multi-coloured lights or the crazy patterned wallpaper and chandeliers that gives it that homely feel. “I wish there was a venue like this in London,” lead singer and guitarist Max Bloom shouted to the crowd. “It’s pretty cool!”

Bloom and his three bandmates – drummer Jonny Ragoff, guitarist Ed Hayes and bassist Mariko Doi – visited Manchester’s Deaf Institute with tracks from both their old and new albums. After forming in 2009 following Bloom leaving Cajun Dance Party, the four piece indie rockers have composed albums titled ‘Yuck’, ‘Glow And Behold’ as well as their newest named ‘Stranger Things’ that was released back in February this year.

Prior to Yuck putting on their show, Atlantis quartet Soda Fabric took to the stage, and they brought indie pop grooves in an attempt to get the crowd excited for the main act. Stood in their funky shirts, they did just that, and played tracks from their album ‘Atlantis’ which was mixed by Bloom himself.

Going into The Deaf Institute and awaiting Yuck was sort of surreal: it went from empty to being busy in a matter of seconds, and the audience consisted of spectrum of ages that were both young and old fans. Yet, their fan base must reflect their quality, because there were both the youngsters and the older fans in a mosh pit at the front.

As Bloom stood there, in his stylish round glasses and his backwards snapback, his connection with the audience was one that you could sense rather than witness. Yuck’s lack of interaction with the audience worked in their favour, as their indie rock tracks enticed the audience forcing them to dance, jump, sing along or just stand in awe of the catchy chorus’ that were played so well.

The track with heavy percussion and guitar quirks from ‘Stranger Things’ was the one that opened their set, and that was the one named ‘Cannonball’. The band didn’t make a massive entrance with it, but that just reflects their mellowness that they have, and also their eagerness to express their new treasures of their new released album.

It was declared that, sadly, Regoff had lost his voice so he couldn’t be doing the backing vocals. That didn’t phase him or anyone else, though, and every song sounded impeccable. Only girl member Doi stepped forward on the vocals for new song ‘As I Walk Away’, as she swayed playing the bass in her flowing white outfit. Her voice is one that isn’t particularly powerful, but that’s what makes it so pleasurable to listen to, as the soft riffs compliment harsher undertones of the track.

The whole floor didn’t stay static, it moved as the crowd shimmied and swayed to the songs. However, it was ‘Holing Out’ that prompted the biggest mosh pit of the night, which had engulfed half of the room and proved the energy flowing within the people watching.

There was a definite increase in enthusiasm as the set went on, as the movement in the crowd started as little head nods, and it heightened to a rather rowdy mosh pit in the end – one that almost the whole floor joined in with!

Bloom mentioned that it was “pretty cool” that this gig was a Sunday, because it didn’t feel like it, it felt like a Friday or Saturday. He was right; the room that was packed with an atmospheric glow of a free spirit and merry charisma it felt like the beginning of the weekend.

We have this great indie rock culture that’s taking a prominence in the music industry today, and Yuck fit perfectly within that. With their mysterious personas and laid back vibe, Yuck on stage demonstrates that culture, especially in a venue like The Deaf Institute that fit with what they’re about so beautifully accurately.

By Amy Williams
@ajwilliams_95

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