They may have postponed their April tour dates to align with their new record deal, but it was all worth it in the end...
They may have postponed their April tour dates to align with their new record deal, but I doubt anyone present five months later would deny that Larkins have used their extra time well. Armed with two new singles, the Manchester four-piece put on a compelling, professional performance that a band twice their age would be proud of.
It’s not often that a band so comfortable at the mixing desk can make such a splash on the stage without altering their sound, but Larkins’ signature synth-boosted alt-pop was out in full force.
Frontman Josh Noble’s impressively polished live vocals shone on songs like the understated Make You Better and fan favourite Not Enough Love, while the instruments took centre stage on older, rock-centric cuts like Hit and Run.
It’s not hard to spot a band with a cult following. Other bands at this stage in their career might have tried harder to win over the crowd, but Larkins knew they didn’t need to. They never doubted their audience’s loyalty - it only took two songs for Noble to start pointing the microphone our way - yet they were always visibly grateful to receive it.
The band exuded a quiet assurance that showed a mastery over crowds of this size, but my gut tells me they would be equally unfazed on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage. When they introduced Phoebe Hall to perform their new collab Pulling Me Back, it was with the easy deference of the Pretenders bringing on Dave Grohl as their surprise guest.
That’s not to say they were distant or disinterested. There were moments of joy and passion too. Their heartfelt cover of Daft Punk’s Digital Love was a highlight; a tender moment between performers and audience that outshone the recorded version by a mile.
And though the band communicated surprisingly little with each other, it was clear that each member was delighting in their shared energy, grinning to each other all the way through the frenetic finale TV Dream.
A refined studio sound does not a great band make, but with live performances as well crafted and entertaining as this one, I have no doubt the Manchester alt-pop scene is in incredibly safe hands. Let’s hope it’s not too long before they visit again.
Larkins performed at Rescue Rooms on 14 September 2023.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
