Has there ever been a Manchester band so criminally underrated than Puressence? Every time one of those “most missed Manchester bands” lists do the rounds you can bet your bottom dollar the Failsworth four piece will be on it. Blasting into our lives in the early 1990s, they made instant waves with their intoxicating mix of crashing guitars, soaring vocals and dark lyrics. By 1995 signed by Island Records, it felt like they were on the brink of something big. With the sheer size of their songs, and the aching beauty of frontman James Mudriczki’s voice, you’d think their talent would demand it. But mainstream success somehow eluded them, and by 2013 Puressence were no more.
Until now that is. Late last year they announced they were reuniting, for their first live performance in 13 years. For those fan faithful who ARE in on the secret, it sparked a frenzy. Announcing just one gig, on home turf in Manchester at the Albert Hall, unsurprisingly it sold out in minutes. Will more gigs now follow? Well, fans can but hope after this goose-bumper of a return on Saturday night.
There was near fizzing anticipation as James Mudriczki, Kevin Matthews, Lowell Killen and Anthony Szuminski walked onto stage to a heroes’ welcome just after 9pm. The gloomy, straining pound of the guitar on Near Distance opening things up with Mudriczki’s perfect yearning quiver confirmed to be as crystal clear as ever. In the build up to this gig fans were left with hearts in mouths when the enigmatic frontman announced on social media that he had suffered a brain haemorrhage in January and that it had been “touch and go”. He references his health drama on the night with dry humour. “I very nearly didn’t make it tonight…” he starts, before quipping: “I missed my bus.” He adds: “News of my impending doom have been… very underestimated. I’m joking.” Later he hails Walking Dead as “close to home”, and you get the sense he’s a man grateful for every second he’s now got.
For the band reunited here just sound so vital, so passionate, just so good. I Suppose and Traffic Jam in Memory Lane continue to build the momentum in a set that delivers near enough every possible Puressence goody out of the bag. When you hear songs like All I Want, with its aching, haunting splendour, or Don’t Forget To Remember with its perfect tinkling indie pop melody, you just wonder why on earth they’ve not been picked up to soundtrack countless American TV dramas. You only have to look around the Albert Hall to see how much this gig, these songs, mean to people. Hands are clasped to heads in hypnotic wonderment at seeing the band live after so long, other groups of fans hugging and bouncing along.
Sharpen Up Your Knives is the thrilling, faultless conclusion to the main show. The pound of fans’ feet greets the band’s return to stage for the encore, with James rather surreally throwing out bananas into the crowd. This Feeling, the band’s highest placing chart single, and an absolute stone cold Manchester classic, ripples around the audience, every word and trill reciprocated from fans. The show ends with the epic frenzy of India, Lowell’s guitar strings curling to a crescendo like a swarm of Manchester bees. “Literally the best crowd ever,” sighs James surveying the crowd of die-hards as this comeback set comes to a triumphant close. Well, I think that means this was officially the best Puressence gig ever as well then. If you were there, you’ll know it felt like it too.
Setlist
- Near Distance
- I Suppose
- Traffic Jam in Memory Lane
- Gotten Over You
- It Doesn’t Matter Anymore
- All I Want
- Palisades
- Make Time
- Bitter Pill
- Standing in Your Shadow
- Our Number’s Oracle
- Burns Inside
- Don’t Forget to Remember
- Mr Brown
- Walking Dead
- Sharpen Up Your Knives
ENCORE
- This Feeling
- In Harms Way
- India
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