VENUE THE LOWER THIRD, LONDON

DATE 16/04/2023

SUPPORT I AM THE MANIC WHALE

The first ever prog act gracing the stage of this new London venue, I Am The Manic Whale look more akin to the accounts dept on dress-down day than archetypal rock band, with bassist/ frontman Michael Whiteman seemingly taking sartorial cues from a retro ‘Man at C&A’ advert. Any superficial first impressions are quickly vanquished however. With a set based solidly on 2020’s Things Unseen album, the marriage of multipart vocal harmonies, cheeky odd time signatures, tremendous unison playing, tricky arrangements and powerful musical statements is an impressive one. The opening trio of Billionaire, The Deplorable Word and Into The Blue combine hints of classic 70s bands while remaining fresh and inventive. There’s plenty of interaction and connection between band members, who all look like they’re having a ball. Into The Blue and the paean to the Intercity 125 Valenta Scream take on a more raw and urgent character live, while the virtuosity displayed during the jazz fusion sections of The Deplorable Word and the lengthy instrumental intro and epic ending of set-closer Strandbeest highlight what fine players the band are. Happy to proudly own their geekiness, we get a song praising Lego, Build It Up Again, and in revealing a couple of songs from upcoming album Bumper Book Of Mystery Stories, they air Ernö’s Magic Cube with an appropriate prop and exposition about the mathematical permutations of a Rubik’s Cube.