Manchester setlist & review

The setlist from Doves first gig at Manchester Apollo in 20 years. A very special evening.

Review (excerpt below) from the Manchester Evening News.

There was a very distinct, and rather unapologetic, celebration of Manchester when Doves played a homecoming show in the city on Saturday night.

A wonderfully jubilant feel was in the Manchester December evening air with Doves taking to the stage at the city’s Apollo venue.

“Good to be back in the Apollo, my sacred ground and hopefully yours too,” Jez, dressed head-to-toe in black, his hair swept back, passionately stated. “I can tell this is going to be a rowdy one – let’s hope so.”

Mid-set sibling Andy took temporary leave from his drum kit. In-between occasional sips from his brew, he paid a lovely tribute to the Williams brothers’ mother. Andy telling the crowd: “She’s 90 in February and she’s more f**king rock n roll than anyone else in the family.”

The most touching moment of the evening came as the band honoured fellow Manchester music royalty Mani. The Stones Roses bassist much-missed following his death in November. Ahead of House of Mirrors, played in Mani’s memory, Andy Williams described him as ‘a beautiful person’.

Towards the main set’s conclusion, the tempo of the evening gained increased pace through the building beat of the unmistakable Pounding, which got those seated above on their feet, at the Apollo, with Black and White Town later seeing the Williams brothers, and their talented supporting ensemble, momentarily leave the stage.