Sløtface + Bruising – Fallow Café, Manchester

Ending their mini UK tour with their first ever Manchester performance at the city’s Fallow Café, Sløtface burst into life instantaneously, opening with single ‘Take Me Dancing’, utilising it almost as an order to the crowd.

The small, packed room proves to be the perfect setting to amplify the frenzied atmosphere and with guitarist Tor-Arne Vikingstad and bassist Lasse Lokoy running between stage and audience during tracks, it’s no wonder that the crowd are in a complete whirlwind of energetic madness.

New track ‘Empire Records’ sees no falter in the crowd’s reaction, with people from the front to the back singing along with as much ferocity as to final number, ‘Shave My Head’. Their set ends, leaving behind with it a tangible excitement in the air of a band who have the drive, energy and – most importantly – the talent to be huge.

Bruising have the difficult task of closing the night, but are unfazed as they take to the stage in all-white, stating to the crowd that “you must not have got the memo about the dress code… you all look fucking ridiculous” before beginning their set in impressive synchronisation.

It might be the same high level of control that prevents them from reaching their peak until penultimate track and brand new single ‘I Don’t Mind’ sees them relax a little bit and so, in turn, do the crowd, just in time for final song and crowd favourite ‘Emo Friends’ to end the night on an all time high.