CityLife

In The City 2010

In the City
(various venues)
October 13 to 15, 2010

In the annals of In the City history, 2010 will become known as the year the Manchester institution was reborn.

Formed in 1992 by – who else? – Tony Wilson, Manchester’s answer to Texas’ SXSW has witnessed early performances from Muse, Elbow and Coldplay, but seemed to hit the buffers last year; too many inferior bands, too many venues and a general lack of focus blighted all.

Considering the relative nadir, the reinvention has been startling. Moving its base from the Midland to the City Inn was inspired, as was the decision to streamline the venues around the Northern Quarter (I mean, who wants to step foot in Bar38?).

But above all, the quality of bands was of such a standard over 1800 delegates were registered over the course of three days, more than 1000 up on last year. Reenergised with a greater sense of purpose from all involved, it made for a real communal atmosphere

It meant there was something intriguing to watch nearly every step of the way. Of course not everything hit the mark (White Ring with your suffocating dry ice, I’m looking at you) but there were highlights at every turn.

But with time and the laws of physics against you – try as you might, it is impossible to be in two places at once – not everything could be taken in. Everyone had their own personal journey to take, story to tell; mine including telling anyone who’d listen how Factory Floor nearly ripped by bowels out with a post-apocalyptic sonic assault so intense, so relentless, so powerful it was left throbbing through my body for the rest of the week.

Playing continually for 40 minutes (they had to be dragged off stage), their music amalgamates post-punk and incessant, droning electronics – with layers of feedback, obviously – that doesn’t ask you to dance, but antagonises you to do so.

Noise was everywhere; No Age were predictably raucous during their Wednesday headline slot at Night and Day, barely stopping for breath as their punkish exploration smashed against the walls.

Before them, Male Bonding and Mazes both impressed, the former spitting their tracks out with disdain and the latter giving early 90’s college rock a melodic kick up the backside. Yuck similarly take the queue from that period (they cover Pavement) but their songs are astounding, taking in a shoegaze influence. A great future beckons.

Health and D/R/U/G/S kept the racket coming. Health are difficult to categorise, seemingly hell bent on cramming as many genres into their set as possible, but the sense of adventure is melded together impressively. D/R/U/G/S offer a noise that could soundtrack that moment when you’re not sure if you’re asleep or not, a distant, paranoid electronica.

The other end of the spectrum gave us local acts Patterns and the Kill van Kulls. Patterns recall Foals without the sense of self importance and if their melodies swam around your head; Kill van Kulls are indebted to synth-pop and sound like The Killers sat on a keyboard with second-time-round Hoosiers. It will be probably be massive.

In amongst all else there remained room for splendour, best displayed by Still Corners who, frankly, have some astonishingly gorgeous songs that retain their beauty even when the volume is cranked up.

The last band of the week Kisses were of a not entirely dissimilar ilk, with their take on lovely indie-pop a wonderful way to round off a spectacularly successful ITC 2010.

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