It's been six long years since Jamie T last took to the stage in Manchester and the singer-songwriter is greeted on this wet Thursday in November at the O2 Victoria Warehouse as if he has never been away.
The rapturous reception as he swaggers onto the stage isn’t surprising given his standing as a member of British alternative music royalty. Tonight’s audience grew up listening to his four previous studio albums, and despite the signature baggy shirt and cap, it’s clear he’s done some growing up too.
His timeless tales about being young, falling in and out of love, and the pressures of everyday life have been combined with the unique twists and turns in his work during the last decade-and-a-half.
Jamie T's DIY musical style has provided a soundtrack for a generation of people, many of who are squeezed into the Warehouse to witness his long-awaited live return to the city.
Album number five, The Theory of Whatever was released in July and once again the usually shy singer has let his music do the talking after casually dropping one of the best records of the year.
"Jamie, Jamie, Jamie f***** T" sings back the crowd to their everyday hero as he opens the night at the very beginning, launching into an acoustic base solo of the opening track from 2007's Panic Prevention, Brand New Bass Guitar.
It’s like being transported back to 2007 as Operation and So Lonely Was The Ballad follow with the crowd reminiscing over their long-lost teenage years.
New single 90s Cars brings the room back to the modern day driven along by a melodic bassline that sounds something like a mix between New Order and the Streets.
Power punk anthem A Million & One New Ways To Die provides one of the more guitar-heavy new tracks from the recent album, sounding straight out of the 2000s with its Jimmy Eat World vibes sparking the first mosh-pit of the night.
Salvador and an acoustic version of Back in the Game prove to be mid-set highlights from the boisterous set as every word is sung back at Jamie before comeback single and already live classic The Old Style Raiders bursts in with its punchy chorus as the room fills with hands in the air.
After a long time away and despite a troubled period off the stage, Jamie is clearly back in his element here as he effortlessly launches into If You Got The Money causing wave after wave of bodies for the initial set closer.
He returns for a riotous encore along with Hugo White from The Maccabees, who had earlier provided the impressive support act 86TVs, dropping the curtain with what are surely his three biggest hits in a row.
After 15 years it's starting to feel like indie disco classic Sheila is growing slightly old and it's Stick ‘N Stones that really ignites the crowd as beers and bodies fly through the air.
A short pause to whip up the crowd into a frenzy for Zombie sees the whole room surge towards the beloved singer as the sea of bodies turns into a joyful mess of mayhem.
As the rambunctious night comes to an end, there's little doubt Jamie T has returned at the top of his game. The good news for Manuncians is that he is back to do it all again next week.
