Tame Impala, Manchester Arena, gig review: Making a cold midweek night feel like a far-removed reality

Closing pairing of “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” and “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” was a joyous and surging finale

Daniel Dylan Wray
Monday 15 February 2016 16:41 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Such has been the rapid rise of Tame Impala that they now find themselves playing to crowds about five times the size of those on their last album tour. This is not lost on the band’s frontman and architect, Kevin Parker, who remains in a state of amazement and gratitude all night. Confetti cannons blast into the vast space as the group hurtle through “Let It Happen” which is bathed in shimmering synthesisers, the thundering clout of the drums projecting the sound further through the air, leaving no doubt the band are able to make use of such a large space.

“Why Won’t They Talk To Me?” is gloriously sunny in its hazy yet focused swirl whilst “Elephant” almost three years on from its release still sounds monumental and the jackhammer crunch of the guitar and reach-for-the-sky thump of the refrain are some of the evening’s most exhilarating moments, really cementing the indisputability that this lot know their way around a chorus. The closing pairing of “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” and “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” is a joyous and surging finale, the squelching synths and sun-baked melodies sounding as rich and cosy as they do explosive and galactic, making a cold midweek night in Manchester feel like a far-removed reality.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in