Viagra Boys are a band who have seemingly become infamous almost overnight, but their story goes back to 2015 when they formed in a Stockholm suburb. Their appearance in Manchester tonight has been hotly anticipated for over 18 months; the small matter of a world pandemic getting in the way. After a series of venue changes, they finally grace the stage of the Albert Hall, which swallows some bands whole, but not Viagra Boys.
Opening with ‘Research Chemicals’, a satirical number about exactly what the name suggests. It’s a firm fan favourite and as soon as the opening chords are struck sets the packed lower section into motion. Moving swiftly into ‘Ain’t Nice’ its hard to envisage this band as anything other than nice, they ooze charisma from every pore and singer Sebastian Murphy dominates with ease. New track ‘Troglodyte’ which has been released this week is received with initial trepidation, but it doesn’t last long and everyone is soon wiggling along merrily. ‘Just Like You’ is a slower offering and helps bring the intensity down, just a notch, but has always been one of their strongest tracks, displaying, if possible, a slightly softer side to the band whilst maintaining their potent virality. Instrumental ‘6 Shooter’ bounces straight into ‘Slow Learner’.
The run of misfortune that has surrounded this gig continues when mid-set a beer is spilt on the mixing desk and the sound on stage and out-front cuts out. After a patch of confusion, the band produce the best adlib/strip tease/burlesque concoction you are ever likely to see in such a setting. They become increasingly frustrated, as do the crowd who are sweltering in the packed venue, but thankfully a solution is found, and things get back to normal.
With time ticking on and not wanting to disappoint, they rattle through ‘Ain’t No Thief’ and ‘I Feel Alive’ in quick succession. The shared frustration manifests in electricity on stage and off, with barely a body stood still across the venue. ‘Toad’ moves into the one everyone knows and has been waiting for, ‘Sports’ and then things get really tasty with crowd surfers everywhere, full on pit moshing and everything in between. Closing out is ‘Shrimp Shack’ and with two shrimps in the crowd, its not difficult to understand why this one was chosen. They say their thank yous and goodbyes and leave the stage. The crowd aren’t satisfied with that though, and thankfully neither are they as they come back for ‘Worms’.
This gig has been a long time coming but even despite the (not their fault) dodgy mid-section it is still one of the best I’ve been too. Listening to the sweat drenched crowd leaving the venue, everyone agrees, this band are sensational. Long may they reign.
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