It’s been a long time since I set foot in the iconic Deaf Institute in Manchester, it’s also been a long time since I got to see the dynamic talent of Wille and The Bandits. So tonight was a night to make things right and experience both. It’s getting to that time of year, it’s getting a little warmer and the evenings are a little better for going out into the city centre. So I was in brighter spirits and getting out to a gig felt like the best way to celebrate. Any time you get to listen to live music is always a good night. Wille and The Bandits, hot off the heels of opening for Beth Hart in Europe, have embarked on their headline UK tour and this Manchester date was night number two of the whole thing. So a fresh sounding band and you could tell they were ready to hit the road and perform for the fine people of Manchester. The venue felt like a small theatre, located upstairs, the room was wonderfully open with seating and a viewing balcony. So like a compact amphitheatre. Which suited this style of music quite well as the acoustics rang clear and opened the sound up for both acts performing. I was intrigued for the night to come. After speaking with Wille Edwards for the blog, I could tell he had a jam-packed show in store. The stage was set and it was time to get some music on.
Opening things up was the folksy talents of James Dixon. It’s been a long time since I immediately ran to the merch table after a support act to buy their music, my emotional reaction was so strong. His music was simple, clean and evocative. Armed only with his guitar, a box drum and tambourine, he managed to create a fully immersed three-dimensional sound that captivated the audience. It’s very much that kind of bluesy folk sound that you would hear in a late night dive bar that’s open way past midnight. Dixon’s vocals were beautiful and gave way to the imaginative soul that lay beneath. The twang of the guitar strings and the thump of the box drum injected so much energy into the room while still having that grounded roots-based folk sound. His set flowed so well from one song to the next while the Manchester crowd hooted and hollered for more. There was a quiet charm to his stage banter. It was so typically British, with dry wit and sarcasm intermingled with genuine appreciation for the audience turning up early to the show to experience his set.
This was my first time hearing him perform and I was super impressed. Every song felt so relatable as his poetic lyrics filled the room. The charming performance of “Every Sinner Every Saint” hit me right in the emotions, a wonderfully crafted song with a chorus that stuck with me. I was blown away by the efficiency of the set, not a single bit of time felt wasted, he made every second count to leave an impression on the crowd. His clean and proficient skill of the guitar laid an effective groundwork, then the passionate and beautiful vocals put it over the top for me. It reminded me of a lot of the singer songwriters I grew up listening to and it almost felt nostalgic in a weird kind of way. I was incredibly happy with Dixon’s performance and as he played his song “Lucky” you could see the genuine soul getting lost in the music. Like I said, I bought two of his records from the merch stand right after and I would highly recommend them to anyone with even a passing interest.
CHECK OUT JAMES DIXON: WEBSITE | BANDCAMP | YOUTUBE
After a brief break, the room started to fill more as people started to filter in for the main attraction. The stage felt like it was overflowing with instruments, all of which would be used by the end of the night. The lights dimmed and it was time for the band to take centre stage. Wille and The Bandits wasted no time bringing that loud, ferocious energy as the instruments revved up to life. It probably wasn’t the best time to realise I hadn’t brought my earplugs… I thought 'oh well', as I braced for impact. They sounded enormous with the guitars and keys working in tandem, the bass grooving and the drums crashing all around the sound. Wille Edwards is an absolute dynamo when he performs. Tri-wielding his guitar, slide-guitar and his commanding vocal talents. It’s something that has to be witnessed to be fully appreciated. You get that full scope of everything he juggles and makes it seem so effortless in the process. As the band transitioned from song to song, it’s like being transported through several different worlds. If I could describe them as anything, it would be a jam-band. They defy being placed in a genre box, they flow so well from blues, to rock, to funk, to even elements of prog-rock.
There were so many moments from this set that I could call iconic. The wonderfully serene ballad “When The World Stood Still”, the funk masterclass of “Keep It On The Down-Low”, the mind-bending instrumental masterpiece of “Angel”. All of it worked and the way they just go from one area of the rock world to the next was so well done. All of the pieces from each band member added so much to the whole sound. The drum fills were so well executed and added so much texture to the songs, it helps that they were so clean and added to the tone of the tracks. The clean and effective bass work added depth and kept the overall groove on track after the guitars and keys went completely wild, and the keyboard work in harmony with the guitar, making that thick tone and giving the guitar licks and riffs that added flair to the sound. When you break down the pieces, each part of the live production just sounded wonderful and it made for a sound you could get completely lost in.
My favourite song from the band is the emotional ballad “Four Million Days” so it was a pleasure to get to hear it live and it sounded superb. It’s a simple song but one that resonates with me for many reasons. I love how Wille takes the electro-acoustic guitar and molds the sound from it to something you don’t typically associate when you see the instrument. The big bold sound that you would get from the electric, with a deeper, thicker tone. It’s so interesting to watch them perform these songs live as they find creative and interesting ways to perform them, with a core focus on keeping the audience entertained. The Manchester crowd were great on this night, just everyone in the venue in full appreciation of watching people who are ever evolving and mastering their craft. Every time a song ended, you felt the love and appreciation and I think the band felt that too.
This was such an electric night of entertainment. I think that this is a band that you need to check out, at least once. Their eclectic discography leads to varied and fun setlists; their excellent musicianship makes you step back and appreciate the craft of songwriting and performance; their jovial personalities make them so likable; and their overall sound is a powerhouse of infectious excitement. Like I’ve said, it’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to watch them perform and I’m happy to report that they didn’t let me down. Not for a single second of this night did they let the energy slip away from them. There was always something so exciting around the corner and, honestly, I could have watched them perform for longer!
CHECK OUT WILLE AND THE BANDITS: WEBSITE | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | INSTAGRAM
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