LIVE: Vida – Castle Hotel, Manchester, 10.12.16

It always seems but a matter of time before Scotland shares a new band ready to explode with the world; it seems that in 2016 it may be the turn of Vida.

This is an intimate gig even to a newly blossoming band like these Alloa youngsters. Having played to near 100 people in the likes of Birmingham’s Sunflower Lounge, this tightly packed back room provides an opportunity for them to share their Britpop inspired tunes with the people of Manchester for the first time.

Their set includes tracks of newest EP Masquerade (Previously reviewed on Gigslutz) which are well received in the sticky back room of this Northern Quarter boozer. Their riff driven set finds a balance between the sound of some of their inspirations, notably The Verve, but with their own twist on it keeping its Scottish roots. The ferocity of their set is perhaps the most eye opening element of the performance, combining their raw sound with a more mature song writing frame to create organised-chaos on stage.

This is most apt when they close their set with a version of ‘Bittersweet Symphony’. They are quick to call this a version rather than a cover as they have very much re-imagined the track with more guitar, more drums and generally more punch than the original.

Far from giving an egotistical image of themselves as many fast rising new bands do, they seem to genuinely enjoy what they are doing in these small venues, and if they keep doing what they are doing, they won’t be small venues for too much longer.

We also spoke to the band upstairs in a very cluttered greenroom following their set, check out the interview here.

Sam Wright
@SamWrights_

Photo Credit:
James Robinson
@James_rob95