On the 5th of October, the south coast indie trio, The Manatees, headlined the fairy-light-draped, sticker-plastered grassroots venue, The Chameleon Arts Café in the centre of Nottingham. This show comes shortly after the release of their latest single, Call You A Criminal, which will feature on their exciting upcoming EP, Different State Of Mind. Roxann Yus reviews.
There were lots of firsts for me last night: my first time at The Chameleon Arts Café, my first time
seeing The Manatees live. It could have been my first gig in Nottingham since arriving back from
Germany, but I very quickly established the gig-going habit of as many gigs a week as possible when
term began, so this is my second. Nearly my first, though.
The venue perfectly encapsulated the sticky floor beginnings of UK indie-rock bands with a warmth
and localism that you don’t get to experience at O2 Academies and the like. With each stairwell
leading you closer to the magical insight of discovering yet-to-blow-up bands, the top floor found
itself host to a snug group of enthusiastic local gig-goers and yet-to-be-appreciated indie classics.
Bandit opened the stage for The Manatees with scouse charm, indie expertise and a decreasing
stash of Lidl cookies. May I reiterate: only at the heart of the UK’s grassroots venues will you find this
personable localism. Sticky floors and lonely, wandering packets of crisps and cookies are what
sustain the musical ingenuity and charisma of touring UK bands.
"...only at the heart of the UK’s grassroots venues will you find this personable localism."
Of this ingenuity, Bandit played early songs such as I’d Try Anything Twice to their newest single, Sad
Boys, which was released at midnight after the gig. The newest single fits neatly into the demand for
head-banging, catchy-chorus, indie belters with nods to anti-heimat sentiment. Their music speaks
to angsty British youth and would be more suitably received at a larger scale: their themes are made
so accessible with aid of the indie genre. The band create playlist- and festival-worthy tunes ready to
be heard at large – I’m eagerly awaiting their breakthrough.
Another band that shouldn’t need an introduction is The Manatees. Yet, for some reason beyond all
comprehension, they still do. It is very apparent how well-versed they are in performing together as
their movements sync up and work together as a chain reaction. Then of course this naturality
diffused into the crowd with aid from indie anthems Naturally, The Sound, Dream in Colour, and
especially with folky, beloved encore song Milan.
But if only there was a bigger crowd to enjoy their inherent smoothness and composition – Dream in
Colour, especially, could comfortably soundtrack Indie Wednesdays at Bodega, or invite in a jumping,
playful crowd the same way Inhaler can at Rock City. Certainly underheard for the noise they make
in the indie discography, The Manatees are on the road to collecting a solid base of UK fans on this
tour, but perhaps, the midlands and north are yet to catch onto their magnetic pull.
The Manatee’s second EP Different State Of Mind is set for release at the end of the cold, dark, and
sweet indie-calling months on the 23rd of February 2024. They’re sure to have won the hearts across
the UK after Call You A Criminal has some company, so I’m expecting a sold-out Bodega on their next
leg.
Roxann Yus
Edited by Tabitha Smith
Featured Image courtesy of Hannah Fielder
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