Tuesday 28/09/04 Jetplane Landing @ The Roadhouse, Manchester

Arriving at Manchester’s celebrated sweatbox The Roadhouse just in time to catch supporting young upstarts Fickle Public tear through a set, cant be bad. Early awkwardness gives way to an energetic and affirming display from the Glasgow boys and their punk slantings. With a front man baying for attention through animated posturings, they often look, and indeed sound impressive (probably why they seem so self assured), but I can’t help thinking they’re yet to fit comfortably into their position.

Jetplane Landing weren’t exactly topping the list of live bands I wanted to see this month, but to judge a band solely on their studio recordings is a bit rude and nobody likes a rude lad. Lead singer Andrew Ferris appears constantly humbled by the reaction his band receives; even breaking halfway through tonight’s set to air his considerable appreciation for the constant support of their fans. For almost two minutes he emotionally collects his bearings, both past and present while the crowd’s stunned silence turns from discomfort to genuine soppy awe at his brash openness. No ordinary band, Jetplane Landing are unconventional in the modern approach.

Relentless touring (breaking touring records with a 60 date UK stint), intimate connections to their fan-base, and a DIY ethic extending to the creation of their own record label Smalltown America has seen them receive perpetual admiration from the start. And rightly so, they have a lot to be proud of, particularly as a live entity. Guitarist Cahir O’doherty strikes some impressive early poses, angular and aggressive, writhing in his own wall of sound while the relatively static Ferris on vocals/guitar and bassist Jamie Burchell hold proceeding firmly together.

Early stage invasions (by a cranked up loon in shirt and tie) electrify both band and crowd to dizzying heights of hysteria, and before long all are sweaty, sodden and stinking. It’s hard to judge if all their live performances ignite the crowd to this degree, but whether tonight is a special case or not matters little to the assembled mass. Singles ‘I Opt Out’, ‘Calculate The Risk’ and ‘There Is No Real Courage Unless There Is Real Danger’ from their latest album all pummel the PA with such vigour and momentum that early doubts concerning their recordings become irrelevant to the persuasive power of Jetplane Landings live execution.

Andrew Ferris seems to think touring the north may become a one armed battle in the future, and this is possibly a last opportunity to catch his band for a long while. I personally don’t envisage this, as live, Jet Plane Landing are something special. They need it as much as we do.

Photos by Daniel Pratley