REVIEW : The Lemon Twigs // O2 Ritz Manchester

Following the release of their latest EP Brothers Of Destruction, The Lemon Twigs took to the stage of Manchester’s O2 Ritz for a spellbinding performance.

Crowds of music lovers adorned in flares and velvet blazer’s gathered in one of Manchester’s most iconic venues, the O2 Ritz. The feeling like you’ve stepped out of That 70’s Show wasn’t an uncommon one, seeing as the band revel in their eccentric style.

Brothers Michael and Brian D’addario are no strangers to the limelight coming from an acting background. However, with only one album under their belt and an EP, they captivated the audience with their unique sound.

After a huge cheer from the crowd upon the band taking to the stage, the first few jangly notes of I Wanna Prove To You were struck. The crowd erupted into the opening line of “I wanna prove to you my love is extended”. Swaying in time with gigantic smiles upon everyone’s faces, love filled the room as this ballad swirled around the premises. The longing encompassed in the lyrics “baby, why won’t you love me?” was hurtfully sung back to the band by every audience member as though they too were pouring their heart out.

Both brothers who form the foundation of The Lemon Twigs are multi-instrumentalists, switching from vocals, to drums, to synths seamlessly. This was demonstrated throughout the entirety of the gig, showing the audience how versatile and talented they are.

Midway through the performance the band introduced a cover of Jonathan Richman’s You can’t talk to the dude. This is a track that the brothers had debuted in previous shows before and one that the crowd almost longed for. The cover showed them demonstrate fast paced chord sequences and exquisite vocals. With the overall song seeming faster and rockier than the original, which is The Lemon Twigs giving it their own edge.

As the show came to the end, As Long As We’re Together was played. The crowd joined in for the parting lyrics of “As long as we’re together, I don’t see what’s wrong with that”. Meanwhile on stage Brian D’addario was showcasing amazing jumps into splits, acting almost as a rock god, but completely owning it.

Throughout the show you were taken on a rollercoaster of emotions and tempo’s, which ultimately provided you with the best experience from a band that really knows how to capture an audience.