Gig Report: Caitlin Krisko and The Broadcast w/ Ruby J @ Night and Day Cafe, Manchester 29/09/24

Photo by Mark Lear

It’s autumn when the cold starts rushing in, the rain pours and bands come out in full force. There seem to be bands touring by the masses full and concert-goers come out by the dozen. This one was going to be a special one for me. Last year, I got to see this band in Liverpool and this year they dropped their new EP. Caitlin Krisko and The Broadcast are fast rising to be one of the premier blues rock bands set to take the 2020s by storm. Led by their eponymous vocalist Caitlyn and filled with blues soul to the brim. Their new EP, Blueprints has been a highlight of the year for many blues fans and their singles have been rattling around in my head for some time. After seeing them as a support act last year, I was rather interested to see what they could do as headliners. So I headed out to the Night and Day Cafe in Manchester, a good little venue a short walk away from Piccadilly train station. I was taken in by the ambience of the room and I waited for the music to start.

Accompanying the North Carolinan rock act was UK soul singer Ruby J. The young blues star shined this evening as a bright star. Her voice carried well throughout the venue in a somewhat improvised set. It felt like a jam night, in a good way. It was a free and fun set filled with good music and lots of personality. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this performance was. There was a casual atmosphere to the set. She was able to put some real power into her vocals which resonated across the room. The Manchester faithful was impressed and I have to concur. The skill and talent on display were well worth turning up to the venue early. Her mix of styles complemented each other well. The mix of blues, jazz and soul was a dream work as the young singer was able to display an astonishing amount of maturity in her sound. Her set rounded off with a cover of “Crazy” by CeeLo Green, which was done well. Putting her stamp on it with a more relaxed, coffee shop jazz vibe. A charming little set that opened up the evening well and set up for the headliners to take over from there.

Photo by Mark Lear

It was time for the band to take the stage. Fresh off of the release of the new EP, Caitlin Krisko and The Broadcast were superb! This was pretty much everything I wanted out of the set and more. The sound quality was impeccable with each member having little time to shine in the spotlight. Front and centre was the frontwoman Caitlin, who is such a shining star in the scene. Her voice climbs to the greatest heights and then some. She puts so much power behind her voice, yet still manages to inject her personality into her words. As a vocalist she is truly wonderful, however as a performer, she’s even better. She makes everyone in attendance feel like she’s speaking directly to them. She just has this presence to her that makes you as an audience member feel closer to her. Behind every great singer is an awesome band that makes them sound incredible. Setting the foundation of the night was drummer, Michael W. Davis, he kept the groove going long into the night. Bass duties were handled expertly by William Seymour, not only was he laying down some tasty grooves but he made it look so effortless. Finally, guitarist, Aaron Austin played some amazing riffs and solos that just set the night on fire. When Caitlin wasn’t singing, he made the guitar sing!

Photo by Mark Lear

They were out to promote the new record and the set contained all of the songs. It was cool to hear some of these songs live, like the funky “Devil On Your Side”, the rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse “Piece of You” and the call and response anthem “Operator”. The set was filled to the brim with top-quality tunes that ranged from toe-tapping fun to emotionally heart-wrenching. In addition to their material, they managed to get in some good covers. One of note was an Aretha Franklin staple song “Today I Sing The Blues”, which Caitlin held in some regard. The way she sang the song was with a great deal of respect. While not outright trying to copy the great Franklin, she managed to sing it was a lot of gusto. I was taken aback by the tune. The band wear their influences on their sleeves, though I wouldn’t say that is a bad thing. They perform the music with a great deal of respect for those who paved the way for the modern blues rock act.

A special moment of the set came when they performed the song “Have To Say Goodbye”. A song dedicated to Krisko’s late mother. As someone who has lost a parent as well, this song emotionally speaks to me as I fought back tears in the venue. Krisko’s voice reached the back of the room and enveloped the audience. She was able to project emotion as her voice remained strong through, what must have been, a hard song to perform live.

Photo by Mark Lear

Rounding off the set was the wonderful ballad “Haunted By You”, which sounded even better this time around. Which is evident in their growth over the last year. They’ve refined their sound down to the best parts, everything sounded better and cleaner. Which is a cool thing to see as a fan. The band made their mark on the UK by covering an absolute classic for English blues. Jo Cocker’s “With a Little Help from My Friends”. The way the band came together and sounded larger than the sum of their parts. This was such a great evening of entertainment. Well-produced sound, a fantastic setlist that ran the gambit of emotions and a well-balanced performance that made everyone feel welcome. For my money, Caitlin Krisko and The Broadcast represent a new wave of blues-rock. They have reverence for the past and interweave that classic sound with new production. Their stage presence is excellent and it’s such a good feeling to be a part of their audience. If you ever get the chance to see them live, I would urge you to take the opportunity.

PHOTO CREDIT: MARK LEAR

CHECK OUT CAITLIN KRISKO & THE BROADCAST: WEBSITE | YOUTUBE |  FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY

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