Kenny

All Hallows’ Eve fell upon The Eagle Inn this dark October night. The cold already set into people’s bones, shivering as they stepped in off the Salford streets. Cold pints reach the hands of the assorted ghouls, witches and vampires as they funnel into the venue, what will be waiting for them? Trick or treat?

Fridge glacially cut onto the stage. The soft glow of bulbs behind them warm the room. Frontman Dalton steps to the mic, he dons a comically short tie and a plastic yellow wig. The entire band sport shirts and school trousers with blue jumpers, their personas for the night. A long instrumental intro ensues, “We’re the Inbetweeners” Dalton shouts as “Take Your Time” launches from the band. Oscar crouches at his pedals as he gears up his guitar for the next song, ‘Trying Not to Fall Apart’. The boys pick up the pace of the set, refusing to let the cold seep into the room. ‘Warning Sign’ gets faster and faster, the rapid tempo gets more dramatic as it goes, a heavy finish, Harry crashes against his cymbals. ‘Perfect Crime’ commences and the song contrasts with its successor ‘Only One I Know’, a beauteous medley which flowed from Dalton, through his fingertips to wash over the strings on his guitar, to his face that scrunches and creases as the words pour from his mouth and to the rest of the band that join the moment. Time for a guitar change as the band come together for the last song ‘Ease My Mind’. Harrison turns to Harry to time the big finish of the song just right, Dalton flings his wig into the crowd. Fridge has defrosted the crowd.

The audience wait with bated breath as an apparition appears before them, it’s Persian Carpet Theory in full fancy dress! ‘In the Fields’ begins, Ethan’s voice wraps around his words as they fall from his mouth, feed into the microphone and fill the ears of the spectres. His lyrics juxtapose with his spotty shower cap and Toad jacket. Sienna’s voice intertwines so delicately with his while she dons her Curious George attire, equipped with ears and a tail. ‘Bedrooms’ plays, Sam and Joe, Luigi and Mario respectively, frame the stage with their comically large hats and dungarees. Luigi removes his cap, clearing his shielded sight to allow his full range of motion at his bass. Ethan tweaks the pegs on his headstock, “there she is” he says as the hum of his guitar commences ‘Crazy’. Joe’s solo is electric as his hand whips from fret to fret along the neck of his guitar. ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ is their chosen cover for the set. Derek, disguised in a Squid Game mask, is a machine on the drums. The peeping poltergeists in front of the stage are now primed for the headline band.

Fairy lights hang from the balcony suspended above the crowd. They illuminate the audience as they hang on Kenny’s every word, now settling onto the stage. “We’re going on a trip, come with us” Daisy chirps as the band pick up ‘Land and Monkeys’. She intertwines French spoken word with her own chatter as the crowd are transported from chilly Manchester to Paris. The set focuses on the drums and the bass, the audience able to pick out each strum of a string from Tom and each beat of the barrels from Esme. Daisy’s voice ringing above the music. ‘From Here On’ drifts into ‘Gates’, as the folky music of Kenny fills the room. The set breaks for Kenny to flog their custom lighters as the set lights up for ‘Nicotine’, the audience takes a drag of the beat. The set ends with ‘Locusts’, Daisy arms herself with a slider as she runs the cool metal against the strings of her guitar. In a frenzy the band finishes.

With warmed cockles, the crowd step back out onto the chilly Salford streets. All dressed to kill as they head off to enjoy All Hallows’ Eve. What a treat!

Happy Halloween!