After the release of ‘KING’ on September 24th, the first music in 23 years, Audioweb came back with a bang, with their fusion of reggae, hip hop, rock, soul, and funk. Announcing gigs in Manchester and London, the Manchester date quickly sold out.
When I arrived at Night and Day, it was already bustling. The front of the stage was packed with avid fans waiting for the band they’d loved for many years.
But first Deja Vega took to the stage to deliver a high-energy set of songs including “Who We Are”, “Spitting Gas”, and ending on “The Test”. It was clear there was so much support for this band. Lead singer Jack’s performance was on point, spitting lyrics amidst frenzied guitar and distortion, Jack always shows great spirit on stage and is a master at engaging the crowd. The band delivered a tight and passionate performance.
By the time Audioweb took to the stage, the atmosphere had reached a fever pitch. A glance behind me confirmed that the fans were hungry to see this band live again after so many years. It’s been far too long for some and the excitement was palpable.
There were some sound issues early on in the set, but once these were remedied, the band settled into the familiarity and comfort of tracks “Sleeper” and “Test The Theory”. The band teased a new track “Ghosts of Manchester” and the crowd lapped up this new material, seemingly Audioweb could do no wrong.
Throughout the set, Martin “Sugar” Merchant had the fans in the palm of his hand. There were moments of pure joy, and his powerful vocal delivery was incredible. The moments of stillness were equally as engaging as the full throttle moments of intensity, and he was a captivating, vibrant presence on stage.
Disappointingly, back in the Nineties, Audioweb was perhaps a little misunderstood and was bypassed. They didn’t fit into a ‘box’, at a time when it seemed so vital that we ‘label’ or explain a band. But perhaps now, it’s time to let the music speak for itself. What is obvious, is that this is a hard-working band with beautifully crafted songs, who share a love and history that binds them together and have created a ripple that will always be felt not only in Manchester, but one that extends all over the world.
PHOTO CREDIT – SIMON LEE
WORDS BY RUTH MURRAY
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