Concert Review: Boston Manor at The Masquerade

Touring in support of their latest album, GLUE, and new EP, DESPERATE TIMES DESPERATE PLEASURES, Boston Manor hit the road in the US once again after a long break. Only about a third of the way into the tour, the band is clearly already in the groove of things.

An absolutely stacked lineup, the tour featured Trash Boat, Higher Power, and Anxious opening the show. Fans were greeted with four hours of various shades of punk and hardcore music for a Friday night to remember.

Connecticut punks Anxious kicked off the four-band bill. After opening up for Knuckle Puck in Atlanta just a month prior, the band was back and ready for action. Short and sweet, their 30 minute set never let off the gas. The band also stood out as the only band from this side of the pond on the bill.

Up next was Higher Power from Leeds. This English hardcore band was wild. Their high energy set got the mosh pit opened up early on. The quartet also featured Anxious' guitarist adding some additional riffs, making their performance that much louder. 

Providing direct support for the tour was Trash Boat. Taking their name from the 23rd episode of season three of Regular Show, Trash Boat have been on the come-up with Boston Manor in the English punk scene for many years. Their rocking set was in support of their latest album, Don't You Feel Amazing?, which came out last August.

I have to say, Boston Manor might just be one of, if not the, best rock shows I've been to. I go to a lot of shows, mostly on the lighter end of the music spectrum, but its been a while since I've physically felt the music like I did at this show. Thumping bass and crashing drums just got me absolutely exhilarated, something the crowd clearly seconded.

Despite a less-than-expected turnout, there was no doubt this audience was ready to rock. The 300 cap room was probably about two thirds of the way full, but that just left fans more room to mosh. Near constant crowd surfing, stage dives, and even a wall of death got things going crazy. All the while, their fans were more than kind to each other, picking each other up off the floor and even catching each other before they hit the ground. Punks of all different ages and backgrounds made their way to the show, showing that while small, Boston Manor has a fiercely loyal and diverse following.

Boston Manor also just had some amazing stage presence. These guys were moving all over the place, and their crowd interaction was stellar. Can tell you how many pictures I got of them screaming right into the crowd. They even helped fans as the surfed their way to stage hop on up. All around just a great performance.

An absolute gas set full of ragers like "You, Me & the Class War" and "Liquid," Boston Manor lit The Masquerade ablaze. A new song, referred to as "Pee Pee Poo Poo" on their setlist, got played about halfway through their performance. Notably, singles "Everything Is Ordinary" and "Plasticine Dreams" did not make the cut. Their full setlist is below.

          1. Burn You Up

          2. England's Dreaming

          3. Carbon Mono

          4. Lead Feet

          5. Desperate Pleasures

          6. Bad Machine

          7. You, Me & the Class War

          8. Pee Pee Poo Poo*

          9. Flowers in Your Dustbin

          10. Broken Glass

          11. Funeral Party

          12. Ratking

          13. Liquid

          14. Halo

          15. Laika

          * unreleased track, denoted as "Pee Pee Poo Poo" on the setlist

Boston Manor still have plenty of dates left on their headline US tour before they head back home to Europe. Once back, they'll be hitting the festival circuit and supporting Neck Deep through the beginning of July.

          4/16 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge^*~

          4/18 Dallas, TX Dada^*~

          4/19 Houston, TX Warehouse Live^*~

          4/20 Austin, TX Come and Take It Live^*~

          4/22 Phoenix, AZ The Rebel Lounge^*~

          4/23 Los Angeles, CA Lodge Room^*~

          4/24 Anaheim, CA Chain Reaction^*~

          4/26 Berkely, CA Cornerstone^*~

          4/28 Seattle, WA El Corazon^*~

          4/29 Vancouver, BC Hollywood Theatre^*~

          4/30 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre^*~

          5/02 Salt Lake City, UT The Loading Dock^*~

          5/03 Denver, CO The Marquis Theatre^*~

          5/04 Lawrence, KS The Bottleneck^*~

          5/06 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge^*~

          5/07 Detroit, MI Magic Stick^*~

          5/08 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom^*~

          5/09 Pittsburg, PA Thunderbird Café^*~

          6/03 Nürburg, DE Rock am Ring 2022

          6/06 Paris, FR La Maroquinerie+

          6/07 Köln, DE Essigfabrik+

          6/09 Interlaken, CH Greenfield Festival 2022

          6/10 Derby, GB Download Festival 2022

          6/15 Wien, Austria Arena Wien+

          6/18 Dessel, BE Graspop Metal Meeting 2022

          6/20 Zürich, CH Dynamo+

          6/23 Frankfurt, DE Batschkapp+

          6/27 Hamburg, DE Knust+

          6/28 Antwerpen, BE Kavka Zappa+

          6/30 Amsterdam, NE Melkweg+

          7/07 Cheltenham, GB 2000trees 2022

          ^ with Trash Boat

          * with Higher Power

          ~ with Anxious

          + supporting Neck Deep

If you're a fan of punk music this is the tour for you. Top to bottom this bill was stacked with great acts, and capped off by one of the best rock bands I've ever seen live. Boston Manor rule, go give them a listen.