Torpes in the UK: Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls + Against Me! + Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo (26th November 2011) Location: Manchester Apollo, Manchester, UK

Monday, 28 November 2011

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls + Against Me! + Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo (26th November 2011)
Location: Manchester Apollo, Manchester, UK

Frank Turner performed his biggest Manchester headline show to date on Saturday night, entertaining a sold-out crowd at the Manchester Apollo.

I must confess that I was not a so called follower. I knew some of his amazing songs but it was a fairly recent discover. I was more of a plus-one but after this show I can definitely say that I am now another converted soul.

Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo

Unfortunately I arrived late and missed the opening act, Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo, which was a crime indeed. I heard some of their songs later on and their music is simply stunning. During their set there was even a guest appearance from Turner himself during the song “Fields of June” and I missed it. Damn!

Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo (with Frank Turner) - Fields of June (live Manchester Apollo, 26-11-2011)

Against Me!

The pop-punk band Against Me! gave us an energetic set powered by guitar riffs played to exhaustion. The crowd gave them a warm welcome and seemed very satisfied with their show but they didn’t tick all the boxes for me. Their songs are a little bit repetitive. Without knowing anything about them, after a few ones I started thinking that I heard that song somewhere… Oh yeah it was exactly the same as the previous song. I know Frank Turner loves these guys but they didn't convince me. It is all a matter of taste...

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls

It was then time for the headlining act and as Turner took to the stage, opening with “Eulogy”, the atmosphere was already building and suggesting that something special was about to happen, and over the next hour and a half one thing became quite clear - Frank Turner, it seems, has made it.

As admirable as it is, selling out this venue is one thing, but filling it and putting on an engaging show is another. That said it was admirable that his show found a nice balance between the intimacy people expect, and the production a gig of this size needs.

Frank Turner is without any doubt one of the best English singer-songwriter of our time. Poignant and profound lyrics that lift you up but at the same time make you think and create a critical awareness about the world today. His lyrics and compositions bring out the best in all of us and this gig was living proof of that. Frank Turner is able to get everyone together celebrating their own individuality!

The crowd was hooked from the very beginning of the set but for me, it was not until ‘”I Am Disappeared” that the hairs on my neck officially stand up, and the music caught me in its net. The softness of the piano first chorus juxtaposed against the heavy guitars worked like a dream and hit me hard.

Frank Turner - I Am Disappeared (live Manchester Apollo, 26-11-2011)

Even without the backing band though, Frank definitely proves that acoustic guitars can be rock and roll. The sing-along “Love, Ire & Song” got the crowd singing along. I finally felt like I was entering real Turner territory, with the politics and protest emerging from his lyrics. Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo rejoined him on stage, and the resulting sound was one of both beauty and bitterness, a killer combination.

My personal highlights of the night were the folksy songs “Wessex Boy” and ‘”Rivers”, both with some brilliant mandolin/guitar/accordion arrangements. The pride of being British emerges on “Rivers” in a way that even people like me (non-British) are affected by it.

Frank Turner - Rivers (live Manchester Apollo, 26-11-2011)

Songs like “I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous” and “One Foot Before The Other” deserve to be mentioned here for their lighting setup, in both cases perfectly complementing the tone and sound of the tracks.

Although the setlist leaned heavily towards Frank's newest record “England Keep My Bones” (9 songs), including the hit "I Still Believe", there were moments like an acoustic version of “Father's Day” which kept Turner's roots present and important throughout the show.

Frank Turner - I Still Believe (live Manchester Apollo, 26-11-2011)

Frank Turner - Father's Day (live Manchester Apollo, 26-11-2011)

Finishing the main set with a superb cover of Queen's “Somebody To Love”, the backdrop fell to reveal a huge banner bearing Turner's name and FTHC logo, a triumphant moment for both the artist and the people who've been following his career.

Frank Turner - Somebody To Love (live Manchester Apollo, 26-11-2011)

He leaves the stage and returns shortly after for the encore, with a new song called “Cowboy Chords” and an old favourite ‘”The Ballad of Me and My Friends” which is understandably well received. Turner then attempts to unite the house singing, enlisting all audience to participate in the chorus of “Photosynthesis”, from the old followers and the plus-ones to the security guys and the people working at the bar in the back.

Frank Turner - Photosynthesis pt.1 (live Manchester Apollo, 26-11-2011)

Frank Turner - Photosynthesis pt.2 (live Manchester Apollo, 26-11-2011)

The exceptional finale was given the confetti treatment, marking Turner's arrival to the big leagues. The chanting of “Most of all, I won’t grow up!” is a fitting end to the show, and I leave, as many others do, with a cheeky smile on my face.

The sound of Frank Turner’s guitar may not be changing the world just yet, but it has certainly changed my mind and spirit. Folk punk is definitely not dead.

After waiting a while, we met Frank Turner outside the Manchester Apollo for a little chat, pictures and autographs. Frank is a really down to earth guy who knows where he came from and who put him up there. The respect and care he has for his fans is just infectious. It is impossible not to like this guy.

Oh, and we are now Frank Turner's Portuguese ambassadors! Our mission is to spread the word of Turner to the Portuguese people. Well, that's a job I'll do with pleasure.

Setlist

Eulogy