Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty Primal Scream returned to Manchester in glorious fashion - leaving Aviva Studios pumping.
Bobby Gillespie’s troupe brought their latest tour to the city in support of the band’s mere 12th studio album Come Ahead - released towards the end of 2024.
Punters certainly got value for their money with two quality support acts - in the shape of Mozart Estate and Baxter Dury.
The grey-suited Dury - son of Blockheads great Ian - delivered a definitive warm-up set filled with angst, some wonderful flailing of limbs and more than a fair share of synth.
Gnashers bared, the frontman, drinking from bottle of Stella, did all he could do to relieve himself of the aforementioned grey jacket as he declared his love of Manchester, while repeatedly referring to himself as ‘delicious f**king me’.
Highlights included I’m Not Your Dog, Miami and (Baxter) These Are My Friends. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better support with the crowd fully uninhibited dancing away, they were more than ready for their main event.
Ascending on to the stage soundtracked to What The World Needs Now is Love, Bobby Gillespie and co took Primal Scream’s devotees through the impressive back catalogue of the Glasgow group formed back in 1982.
More recent offerings Medication and Innocent Money were received well with the band’s enigmatic lead receiving regular cries of ‘go on Bobby’ and ‘come on Bobby’ from the enthused masses.
Throughout the near two-hour set there were nods to political activism and greater emphasises lingering on Primal Scream’s choice of walk-on entrance music, mentioned earlier on.
Gillespie, 62, was looking sharp in a white cocktail suit jacket as his vocals echoed around the roomy hall while the eight-piece on-stage wowed - bassiet Simone Butler notably doing great work. At one point, Gillespie described the music business as ‘strange’.
Two thirds in, the singer informed Primal Scream’s adoring fans that the evening was diverting from art rock to pure rock ‘n’ roll. An enviable greatest hits run came which, in-turn, further lifted the levels of those in attendance.
Ahead of closer, Country Girl, someone down the front seemed to catch Gillespie’s attention with him politely requesting ‘please stop trying to distract me’. Accompanying this interaction were a few peace symbols and kisses to the slightly over-zealous supporter.
The three-song encore of Melancholy Man, Come Together featuring a snippet of Suspicious Minds, and Rocks brought a wonderful night at Aviva Studios to a close. The latter two became high decibel singalongs.
Before taking their bow, Gillespie said: “You’ve been beautiful, Manchester.”
Prior to leaving, many headed to the merch stall for a souvenir. An eye-catching item was a signed Fender guitar themed around Primal Scream’s iconic Screamadelica record released in 1991. Although, at £2,000 those interested in purchasing were presumably loaded.
