YUNGBLUD // O2 RITZ, MANCHESTER
Tonight’s show saw Yorkshire born Dominic Harrison known better by his stage name YUNGBLUD play to a sold out Manchester O2 Ritz on his tour. He was supported by Glasgow band Saint Phnx.
YUNGBLUD PERFORMING AT MANCHESTER’S O2 RITZ - 20.11.2019
PICTURE BY: | KIRSTY LEANNE PHOTOGRAPHY
The crowd were in good spirits from the moment doors opened. The floor flooded with excited fans eagerly awaiting the show to begin. The pre-show playlist was well received by the fans who sang along happily to the emo/punk classics blaring through the speakers of the venue.
Saint Phnx took to the stage shortly after the doors opened with one goal in mind; warming up the otherwise freezing audience members. They succeeded! The three piece kept the crowd moving with their catchy songs encouraging crowd interaction at all times. The band were very charismatic and it made their performance even more appealing, they were a definite crowd pleaser! There was frequently a sea of lights as the crowd lit up the room in unison, paired with the swaying of their arms it made for quite a sight within the venue. The band frequently earned cheers of approval inbetween songs which only urged the band on. The entire room appears to happily bounce along with the band which pleases the three piece. The room was packed out for the support band slot which only suggests how much of a hit they were! As the band exit the stage the room erupts in applause. The band are one to watch out for, they’re so entertaining.
Next it was time for tonight’s headliner, YUNGBLUD! Having seen him previously at Leeds Festival I was intrigued to see what a full length show by him would entail, he didn’t disappoint. He waltzed onto the stage after the most mysterious intro I’d ever seen to a sea of screams from the excited fans along the frontrow. The entire room begins bouncing with him from the minute the set begins, his energy levels are indescribable! The only way I can describe him is as being a ball of energy, he flies across the stage like the speed of light encouraging the fans to jump along with him! Anarchist goes OFF, the entire room appears to be shaking with the intensity of the jumping from both YUNGBLUD and the fans. Fans sing along to every word happily which only spurs Harrison on.
The energy levels never dim, the room is alight with the energy present! As polygraph eyes begins the crowd sings the lyrics loudly, Dom can be seen smiling as he listens to the audience singing every word. He blows air kisses to the crowd whilst exclaiming “I LOVE YOU”. He declares his love for Manchester once more before teasing the crowd with a possible new song, the song goes down a treat with the fans who jump along again whilst he sings the catchy lyrics. As he begins to introduce Original Me he urges the crowd to “Split that fucking mosh pit right now” he then begins the song which sees the energy go up a gear, if that was even possible! As he begins to let the crowd sing he shouts “Manchester let me fucking hear ya” which only makes them sing louder! He’s the ultimate showman, his sets are a performance outside of his lyrics and I’m in awe of the showmanship.
The crowd interaction is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, his fans are so energetic and passionate. As he begins to introduce Loner he puts the signature hand signal to his head which earns deafening screams from the crowd, he then encourages them to sing the chorus for him and only then he’ll “consider playing it” the crowd do not disappoint. The room fills with his lyrics being screamed from hundreds of voices at him, he then begins the song as the crowd jumps around once more. Yungblud then enters the crowd to play Kill Somebody from the audience.
The intimacy is indescribable. As he reappears on stage for the second half of his set he reappears on stage wearing his signature skirt which signals the beginning of the set once more. As he begins casual sabotage he appears to slow the set down and allow everybody, including himself time for a breather from the jumping. He tells the crowd how “I was lost before I found you all, but now I am fucking you and you are fucking me” which earns some cheers from the audience as they engage with the song once again. “You gonna fucking sing this for me or what Manchester?” he exclaims which spurs the crowd to sing along once again. “I’m just a messed up kid with sewn up lips” echoes across the room in a poetic unison. As California begins the energy kicks up once again and sees the crowd and Harrison jump around. “Rip my heart out and pull it out of my chest” echoes across the room as they sing together, it’s a beautiful sight to see. At his request yet another mosh pit opens which delights him. As he begins the single Hope For The Underrated Youth he declares “I believe the future is bright because we are fucking in it” which earns even more cheers from the audience. The song sees a continuity of a sea of lights from the packed out audience. It’s a truly beautiful sight. He closes the set with the popular song Machine Gun (Fuck the NRA) which sees even more jumping once again.
YUNGBLUD is a force to be reckoned with, his entire being is something to watch
SETLIST: | YUNGBLUD : O2 RITZ, MANCHESTER - 20.11.2019
21st Century Liability
Parents
I Love You, Will You Marry Me
King Charles
Anarchist
Polygraph Eyes
Original Me
Loner
Kill Somebody
Tongue Tied
I Think I’m OKAY - (Machine Gun Kelly cover)
Casual Sabotage
Waiting on the Weekend
California
ENCORE:
Braindead!
Hope for the Underrated Youth
Machine Gun (F**k the NRA)