Manc label “Heist or Hit” invited us to the launch of their series of live showcases, “New Cult”. They’re set to host more of these, in an effort to reclaim the Northern Quarter for the noise makers. Keep tabs on http://www.heistorhit.com/newcult/ for their next shows, but here’s how their debut went down…
A party atmosphere swept over a chilly Manchester evening as Heist or Hit records hosted the first (of what we hope to be many) of their ‘New Cult’ series of Gigs. It’s about showcasing three gems of a Mancunian music community in an iconic NQ setting – an area unashamedly nostalgic about it’s rich heritage – and all three acts certainly delivered.
Porji had packed two synthesizers, a bass, a guitar, drums and a whole host of good vibes, and looked nothing short comfortable from the offset. Hypnotic lyrics, effortless charisma… they didn’t miss a beat all evening. From very first notes, they captured the audience’s attention in a big way, shimmying and shaking their way through every drum beat, every vocal breakdown and every memorising melody.
Crowd pleasers such as “Closer” and “I Like That” kept spirits high and a curveball cover of the Prodigy allows a nod to the by-gone rave era – it was more than enough to keep us guessing and wanting more. This four-piece is gathering momentum at a rate of knots… catch them quickly for your “I was there” moment.
The night’s support acts impressed, too – we’ve every confidence they’d have held their own as headliners.
Leisure Theory were a great opener. Their mix of indie and electronic genres grabbed an already excitable crowd by the ears and held their attention, whilst showing them what they were all about. Then the 8 members of Ronald Raygun squeezed (just!) onto the stage, and from the first beat of the first bar, they held the room so well it felt almost as though the brickwork itself couldn’t help but groove along. Infectious funky rhythms wormed their way into every nook and cranny. This group has a big 2020, you suspect.
Huge shout out to Pizza Girl on guest DJ duties for the evening, serving up mash and bangers in-between each act. As debut nights go, New Cult delivered everything they claimed and more. Long may it continue!