Live Review : The Interrupters + The Skints + The Bar Stool Preachers @ the Academy, Manchester on August 29th 2022

Arriving fashionably late I miss part of The Barstool Preachers set and hover at the back, disappointed with myself as the few songs I caught, including ‘When This World Ends’ and ‘Barstool Preacher’ have the place buzzing. I have heard good things about the band and have heard a few tracks on the radio, but until tonight I know very little about them. Not surprisingly given the rest of tonight’s line-up, they are a punk/ ska band, from Brighton, comprising six band members. At times it feels a little Butlins-esque (yes, I did just annex those two words, awful, eh?) but they are entertaining, full of energy, and although the room is only half to two-thirds full, the crowd are lapping up the feelgood vibes on this Bank Holiday Monday. 

During the break between bands, I do some people watching. It is a mixed crowd, with a broad scope of ages including some little ones, probably about 6 or 7 years old – which is great to see but their parents are much braver than I (though I notice one mum leaving early with a sleepy child), plus the usual sights... A fair few mohawks and mohicans, some kilts, lots of pork pie hats, a small number of people falling over pissed; even though I am on my own I feel safe here tonight as the atmosphere is fun-filled and jolly, in fact I am the one with a tired expression on my face. I am hoping the evening can perk me up a bit.

Next to take to the stage are The Skints, a punk/ reggae band from London, formed in 2007. I’ve neither heard them nor heard of them before. They are talented musicians, who throughout the set showcase their talents, particularly Marcia who sings, plays keyboards, melodica, flute and saxophone! They appear to have a lot of fans in the audience, but I do not think they are for me. I guess the truth of the matter is that I have never really been into punk or ska, and I am slowly pushing my musical tastes and starting to find a few bands I like, but this is all a bit bland. The only exceptions are the few songs they play that are more reggae than punk. This formula works better. I cannot help but think the two support bands should have been swapped around as The Barstool Preachers were definitely more engaging for the short time I heard them, whereas The Skints set seems to go on a little too long. 

Before too long the main act are just minutes away and this is what I, and a lot of the crowd (given how much merch I have seen), have been waiting for. Entering to the instantly recognisable ‘Ghost Train’ by The Specials, The Interrupters are a punk/ ska band formed in LA in 2011, when Aimee Allen aka Aimee Interrupter, a singer songwriter (who has worked with the likes of The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones, Travis Barker and Tom Morello), joined forces with brothers, Jesse, Justin and Kevin Bivona. They have two albums including the very recently released “In the Wild” (5 August 2022). 

The room takes to them straightaway as they build an immediate connection with the crowd. Of course, many of the audience have seen them before, as we find out later when Kevin asks for a show of hands to their last Manchester gigs. For me and no doubt plenty of others who have not seen them before, they have won us over from their first very anthemic and timely song ‘Take Back the Power’. Interestingly Kevin tells us their first ever UK gig was in Oxford to a room of only about 30/40 people, so it’s great to see them move up from that and their previous Manchester gig in the smaller Academy to Academy 1. It might not be sold out but it’s still a fairly packed venue. 

Kevin introduces the band, quips about sharing a stage with his brothers and it is mainly him speaking throughout proceedings, but he has clearly done this many times before and the rapport between them all is obvious. It is not until the fifth song that I hear something I recognise, their new single ‘Raised by Wolves’. Strangely not many people appear to know it, but I have heard it on the radio and think it is an absolute banger. Hot on the heels is ‘She Got Arrested’ from the “Say It Out Loud” album, which comes with a hearty sing-along. I am even more in awe of beautiful and smartly dressed, Aimee when she breaks into the song that recently made me sit up and say "Oh I get it now… The Interrupters, they’re pretty good”. That song, also off the new album is ‘In the Mirror’ and wow, just wow. When the song stops ready for the high note of the chorus, we wait with bated breath and Aimee absolutely nails it. A very emotional moment as the lyrics are so powerful and her vocals are incredible. It’s the perfect mix of upbeat music with heart rendering words.

“No matter how far I run
I always end up back here
No matter how far I go
I always end up back here

In the mirror, in the mirror
In the mirror, only in the mirror”

As the night goes on, they attempt to get a few circle pits going but what is far more poignant for me are the themes that are repeatedly mentioned. Kevin gives an impassioned speech about unity, family and belonging, telling the audience to know that regardless of where you come from, the colour of your skin or sexual orientation that “The Interrupters see you, we love you and you belong” before launching into ‘Broken World’. We are invited to create not a wall of death, but a wall of unity, a beautifully original idea. If I had more energy, I would have joined in, but I remain a wallfower. It is a bit jarring being here on my own, but music has and always will, bring people together and I adore how many of their songs are rallying cries to these ends, including ‘By My Side’, ‘Got Each Other’ and of course ‘Family’. It’s not surprising really when I remind myself this is a band made up of three siblings! Wholesome stuff. 

We are treated to a short rendition of Oasis ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ before we are told that some of the song choices tonight were from the fans and for the first time on this tour, they are going to perform this requested cover. Luckily for us, it is not another Oasis. Rather we are treated to ‘Bad Guy’ which I would not know but is apparently a Billie Eilish cover. Great song but I have no desire to check out the original. By the end of the set, we have been treated to nineteen songs including the final song ‘She’s Kerosene’. 

“You play with me, you're playing with fire
You play with me, you're playing with fire”

Tonight, might not have quite taken me out of my funk but it certainly was a tonic for a weary soul. You can still catch the end of this tour over the next few days in Birmingham or London. The band are also back in January 2023 supporting The Dropkick Murphys.