Live Review : Florence Black + Revival Black + The 99 Degree @ FAC251 , Manchester on November 26th 2019
Whoever coined the phrase "Dance like nobody’s watching bla blah blah" obviously haven't seen The 99 Degree play, or they would have changed it to "Write songs like nobody will ever hear them because that's the way you love them, then scare the shit out of everyone by letting people hear them". Either way, these local lads seem totally at ease and appear to really enjoy what they are doing, and it shows onstage. I'm not sure that the small audience that experienced them are necessarily what I consider a fan base, largely due the the other acts on tonight's bill that they have opened for, but John Peel would have loved these, especially ‘The Banshee’ and ‘Bed of Bones’, which wouldn't have sounded too out of place as pre-fight music score in a Tarantino movie.
Revival Black are slick and well-polished, but last night - I think possibly due to PA settings used by The 99 Degree and overlooked as they started their set, too much gain and treble (I'm not a music techy-type) made their sound distorted and over-modulated. It didn't spoil their enthusiasm or passion to entertain though, as they ran through tracks from their debut album “Step in Line”, with ‘No Secrets, No Lies’, ‘So Alive’, ‘Wide Awake’ and ‘Hold me Down’ firmly rooted as a solid basis for a greatest hits package for their faithful and ever growing fanbase. This was their last gig before they break for Christmas and are well deserving of it before the Liverpool band embark on a 26 dates UK wide co-headlining (alongside Scarlet Rebels) tour next year, and possibly a festival or two along the way.
Florence Black, the guys from the Valleys have yet to finish their current tour, with Cardiff, Stafford and London dates remaining. They have a big and powerful sound considering their number and take that "work hard - Play hard" ethos to a new level. Perry can't half beat the living crap out of a drumkit, Fozzi's bass would most certainly cause issues for anyone sporting a pacemaker, and Tristan's skills as both guitarist and singer are all so undeniable. They power through a strong set finishing off with their brilliant version of ‘Breadfan’, originally by fellow countrymen Budgie. 2020 promises a debut album release so I assume a promo tour, and I for one am waiting with eager anticipation, because if their EP's are anything to go by, we are in for a real treat.
Words and photography by Gregg Howarth