Review: Razorlight at Albert Hall

Early noughties indie icons Razorlight returned to Manchester last night for a sold-out show at the equally iconic Albert Hall.

The former church’s sprung floor is the home of Bongo’s Bingo and made for a great place to bop to the Razorwhat? The Best of Razorlight tour.

Opening for the indie quartet are Manc band Afflecks Palace, previously dubbed as ‘nu Madchester’. Their home-coming is a big one.

Frontman James Fender gives off the energy expected of a band bringing back the magic of the nineties, and adds to this energy by asking: ‘Any fans of the Smiths in?’ before launching into a cover of Bigmouth Strikes Again.

Razorlight take to the stage just after 9pm and as the classic hits play, the audience springs into life, warbling the lyrics back to the band.

Razorlight took to the stage of the Albert Hall (Michael Bond)

The music pauses during Golden Touch for the audience to fill in, and the room is filled with voices. As the band bring the sound back and up the tempo, the swell of sound and dancing increases.

As Vice starts up, guitarist and lead singer Johnny Borrell takes off his scarf and unbuttons his shirt.

During I Can’t This Feeling I've Got a round of clapping is started by the band and the audience join in enthusiastically, clapping up to the climax of the song before chaotic jump-dancing take over, complete with a frenzied light show and intense cacophony of melodic sound from the band.

During In The City, Johnny Borrell ditches his guitar and becomes a true rock star, owning the stage and jumping off amps, basking in the joy of being a frontman.

Wire to Wire is an emotional hit, both for the audience and Johnny who drops to his knees at one point and throws the mic stand to one side.

Nine songs in and the band say hello, with Johnny asking: "Hi Manchester how are you?"

A full minute of cheering ensues.

Johnny Borrell from Razorlight live at the Albert Hall (Michael Bond)

During Before I Fall to Pieces, the audience’s singing over powers the band as ‘oh ohs’ are sung and returned.

Somewhere Else starts up and the audience can only be described as feral, jumping and hopping in the limited space allowed at this sold out show.

The band disappear to whoops and claps. But they return 30 seconds later as is traditional now for an encore. The pumped up audience are calmed down by Don't Go Back to Dalston and Good Night.

Johnny takes to the mic again to thank the crowd, saying: "No prerecorded track, no backing track, it’s just people on here… and you."

Suddenly, the orange and white lights that created a warm atmosphere are replaced with just blue and America starts.

Just a guitar, just Johnny and the 1,800 fans. The sounds of the band return for the chorus.

The audience sways, cheers, cries. Johnny stops singing and smiles as the audience fills in the ‘feel’.