Millie Manders And The Shut Up – Live

Live Music Alert!  Yes you heard it right, a real gig with real fans dancing and doing many of the other things we haven’t been allowed or able to do for the past year and a half, a fest of music without any of the restrictions that have blighted the industry for what feels like an eternity.

With a full 6 night shifts of work out of the way this was just what was needed to blow the cobwebs away and give the soul a lift, after a very uneventful hour or so’s drive down from my native town to Leeds, I was feeling excited and although a little on the tired side, I still had that butterfly in the stomach that comes when your about to do something that you’ve missed so much, yes nerves, yet knowing how fucking great (well most of the time) gigs can be.

Shit!!!!! I’m almost there when a drunken man in a kilt suddenly walks out in front the car, oh hell I’ve just driven through the middle of a fancy dress piss up for students, yep I have definitely arrived in the right area.

Now I remember how vibrant and colourful this area of Leeds can be, a place of diversity, a place that yes still has the feeling of somewhere that has suffered from the neglect of government, but yes is still full of getting on with life, The Brudenell Social Club sits right at the heart of this, its place in the community driven by a need to bring live music and art to the locals, and also a place that contributes to the local economy by drawing in music lovers from far and wide.

Anyway, less of my sentimental rambling’s for the things that excite me.  I’ve parked the car and have started making my way in, when I’m spotted by some natty looking punks who I haven’t seen for over a year, now this is why I was so excited, real people with real love for music and friendship, hugs out of the way, we make our way through a now revamped outside seating area (which was once the car park) into the club, to collect my wrist band, now I know its really happening, lots of drunken yet happy and friendly people wanting to say hi, my smile just gets wider and wider.  This was and all day Ska fest of a day, yes I’ve missed most of it, yes I wish I had been in from the off, but its not long before that feeling fades and I walk into the room where we are treated to Millie Manders warming up by miming to the wonderful Amy Winehouse ‘Valerie’, and yes the crowd loved it.

Only 10 mins late kicking off and who really cares?  When Millie launches into ‘Right To Life’ from the Shut Up album, she skanks around the stage and has everyone in the palm of her hand immediately, so yep who cares?  The crowd erupts into uncontrollable dancing and singing along, the energy that is given off by the whole band is all consuming, then comes the moment 3 songs in that (yes selfishly I’ve been waiting for) a song from the last album played live, ‘Your Story’ is that song, still with the brass sections that we are so accustomed to with Millie, but a power of sound that rocks the fuck out of the room, the sweat is already starting to flow, the number of fans singing along is too many to count, if the gig ended now they would still be happy, but hell no its only just getting going!

The set included predominantly songs from the ‘Telling Truths, Breaking Ties’ album a much more personal album, an album that comes from the heart, its an emotional rollercoaster of an album, that fights back in all the right places, you can tell the audience have already picked up on this and with the delivery of a vocal that pulls no punches, its hard not to get fully drawn in, ‘Here We Go Again’ ‘Panic’ and then the truly special song that is ‘Not Ok’ as Millie explains, “this is what we sing about, its what people go through, its something we want to talk about, mental health and depression is always worth being up front about” has you dragged along on a journey that drains you, yet lifts you all at the same time.   Then just when you think you’re unable to give anymore, when Millie has given her all, ‘Glitter Mix’ hits you like a thunderous wrecking ball…. Beautiful, powerful and darn right ridiculously emotional, yes a tear welled up!

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A single crowd surfing moment, a lady behind me who was seeing the band for the first time commenting “Amy Winehouse who? This is beyond that” a bold statement, but one I’d defiantly stand by too, and no I’m not sorry Amy fans!   What a moment in time, best gig of the year in fact in many a year, it would take some topping, but then Rebellion Weekend in Blackpool is around the corner, bring it on!!!!! If have not seen Millie Manders and The Shut Up live, you haven’t lived yet.

For all the Photos from this wonderful live moment go HERE

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