Crisp, clean and polished is what you’re getting when you see The Sherlocks live. They set Manchester on fire with their set and that’s not just because of the pyrotechnics either.

Victoria Warehouse marked the end of tour for The Sherlocks and their biggest headlining gig to date. Based on how they performed, it’s quite clear that they will be selling-out this venue again –easily. They will be needing an upgrade the next time they’re back.

They are not taking their opportunities for granted and have a solid reputation when it comes to playing live that is more than well-deserved.

Support band Neon Waltz were first up on stage; they were decent enough, but were missing the charismatic spark that’s so essential for a live performance.

This was disappointing because their super cool, psychedelic flare, didn’t come across well. However, the vocalist had a gorgeous husky tone to his voice.

They also have a very Manchester band sound, despite being Scottish. It would be interesting to see how they do on their headliner at The Soup Kitchen, on March 1st.

But, when Oddity Road bounded onto the stage it was clear they were raring to go, which was reflected in the crowd’s response to them. Style wise they also looked more together like a proper unit.

They were faster, and fuller in sound, even though there were less instruments. They proved themselves to be an authentic guitar band, that will probably be gracing the covers of the NME and Kerrang soon.

They’ve got a new single coming out called ‘Don’t Hold Me Down’, which by the way, sounds awesome live, so definitely have a listen to that one.

Oddity Road were interactive with the crowd and people were even up on shoulders dancing and singing along; a mighty result considering the track hasn’t been released yet.

They are also very active on social media platforms, adding people on Facebook and Twitter, to extend their fan base and boost interactivity.

‘Too Late Now’ had the drummer playing at pace capable of competing with a cheetah at full sprint. In spite of their hard-hitting, rapid playing, their songs still had anthemic qualities and the band really ought to be checked out, at their Deaf Institute gig at the end of March.

But, they still didn’t compare to the omnipotent Sherlocks.

“Last night, can you remember?” that fantastic gig. Thanks for the epic night and huge thanks to the support staff for keeping us alive during the hectic parts of the night! @TheSherlocks @OddityRoad @neonwaltz #liveforthemoment pic.twitter.com/m7GrFqhuSx

— 12caldridge (@12Caldridge) February 17, 2018

Not before the entire venue had a sing-song though to : Catfish And The Bottlemen, The Fratellis, Blur and Jamie T; during the wait as the stage was set-up.

The Sherlocks opened with ‘Last Night’, followed by ‘Escapade’ and were an instant hit. You would expect that from a huge sold-out venue though.

Even though, there’s only four guys in the band, they didn’t look lost on the wide stage. The band were staggered across the stage, which was great, as you could actually see the drummer; normally they’re hidden away in the shadowy darkness at the back of the stage.

They really used lighting to their advantage too, it added drama and intensity in just the right places. There was also fiery pyrotechnics, that felt hot enough to scorch off your eyebrows, from the front row.

There was then a string of times when smothering smoke engulfed parts of the audience, as some people let flares off. This had a 50/50 split of opinion. Some people loved it and thought it added to the atmosphere, but others found the situation uncomfortable or felt the need for an inhaler.

A few songs in and the band stopped playing. Frontman Kiaran told them to: “Knock it off. Don’t let them off. We’re not going to be able to keep playing.”

Not everyone appreciated his words, which were met with a mix of boos and cheers.

It was certainly the right thing to do though. Gigs are known for being safe places built on mutual respect, if people are ruining the experience for the majority, then something should be done.

This didn’t put a dampener on the night for more than a minute though, they got straight back into the swing of things with ‘Was It Really Worth It?’.

They took two songs to have a down-tempo break, which was needed by the look of their sweaty, breathless faces. ‘Motions’ had an almost cowboy on a gallop, old-western feel to it live, which really made in stand out in the set, as they are a very traditional sounding indie band.

They truly had everyone under their spell . They will no-doubt be wowing people, as they venture around the world, supporting Liam Gallagher.

The Sherlocks’ Setlist:

• Last Night
• Escapade
• Blue
• Will You Be There?
• Was It Really Worth It?
• Candlelight
• Turn The Clock
• Motions
• Heart Of Gold
• Nobody Knows
• Live For The Moment
• Chasing Shadows