Live Review: The Answering Machine @ Sound Control, Manchester

Date: 24th of March 2011
Reviewed by: Ross Baker

Support act Let’s Buy Happiness are a decent warm-up act. The first couple of numbers lack power but latest single “Fast Fast” hints at better things. The group have been compared to Bjork’s former band The Sugar Cubes which is surely due to the vocal stylings of singer Sarah Hall who makes the touching “Devil Show” an involving journey with its subtle acoustic melodies which envelop you. While not an act that will have you bouncing up and down like a hyperactive pogo stick, Let’s Buy Happiness have some involving melodies that meander and intrigue, making you want to hear more.

By contrast, headliners The Answering Machine are a far more energetic act with some catchy choruses and a knack of writing bags of hooks. Early song “Oh, Christina” is a great example of their vibrant indie pop rock; a neat guitar riff leading to a soaring belter of a chorus and numbers from excellent second album Lifeline are greeted with as much enthusiasm as the older songs.

That this is their first show on U.K. soil for a year has done nothing to instil nerves as the quintet ooze confidence and enthusiasm, bouncing all over the stage like their lives depended on it, clearly loving every minute of their performance. It was clear that the band has grown a great deal musically with the additional synth parts and percussion which broaden their horizons very nicely.

After a couple of issues during the first song are ironed out, the band hits the ground running and the audience respond by throwing themselves around at the front of the stage and cheering between songs. Coupled with a solid stage presence and tight musicianship, the band also has a penchant for swapping instruments - such as on “The End” where Gemma Evans assumes vocal duties with Martin Colclough taking over on bass. The song itself, a touching narrative of a broken relationship, is very different from the rest of their material but it shows the band’s desire to expand their sonic template.

Singer Martin is an energetic yet venerable character which only adds to their appeal and when they deliver songs with this kind of passion and quality you know they mean what they sing about and numbers like “Obviously Cold” and “Lifeline” maintain the excitement levels at fever pitch.

The second encore number “Oklahoma” brings down the curtain on a great performance with the audience gyrating with reckless abandon. All in all, this was an evening of well honed tip top indie pop.

See news, videos and upcoming events for The Answering Machine at their Skiddle artist page.

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