REVIEW: Lord Huron at Manchester O2 Apollo
- Natasha Judge
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
LA-based alternative folk group, Lord Huron, took to the O2 Manchester Apollo stage for an evening of three acts consisting of time travelling tunes, and superb storytelling.
The band had just recently released their fifth studio album - ‘The Cosmic Selector: Vol, 1’, which was incorporated throughout their staging and song choices.
Opening with new track ‘Who Laughs Last’ featuring Kristen Stewart, who featured through telephone audio - the crowd were mesmerised from track one onwards.
Fronted by Ben Schneider, who founded the band, and was also simultaneously the narrator, as he regularly addressed the Manchester crowd during the set.
When discussing their recent albums title, Schneider, said:
“We keep getting asked if there will be a Volume two… fuck knows, maybe!”
This was met with a cheer from the crowd. Later in the show, his hand gestured a two during the encore, which was likely signalling two remaining songs - however it could potentially hint at a part two - but that could be wishful thinking!
The group is a prime example of the importance of striving to hear live music. Album tracks were reinvented when performed live, and many took on new depths within the carefully curated set.
The audience were taken on a storytelling journey by the band, and their ballads. There were two prime stage editions of a phone box and jukebox box, alongside a tinselled backdrop, which worked very effectively with the light staging throughout.
Huron fans could be heard gasping throughout the crowd when the first few bars of track ‘The Ghost on the Shore’ played, which was beautifully performed by Mark Barry (percussion), Miguel Briseño (bass), Tom Renaud (guitar), and Misty Boyce (keyboardist and vocalist).
From our position in standing, the crowd were captivated for the entirety of the show, until the end. Many were singing along in unison, and at times sounded harmonic alongside Schneider and Boyce’s vocals.
Eccentrically, Schneider made one request to the audience asking them however they listen to their latest album, to make sure that they do so in order, and not backwards in danger it could open a portal.
He jokingly continued this mid set monologue, and encouraged all mediums of listening, and referred to vinyl listeners as “nerds”, and anyone on VHS as “kinky” - with people cheering for their preferred modes of listening.
The encore happened after the Cosmic Selector Jukebox gave the impression of time travelling, before returning to stage to perform hit ‘The World Ender’.
The setlist was a perfect mix of new and old, great for both long time fans, and those new who may have recently discovered them from their newest album - or from the classics making the rounds on TikTok!
Lead singer, Schneider, expressed how much fun he and the band were having, and the joyous energy was clear to see both during the gig, and when they came together to bow at the end.
The evening was opened by the group, Pillow Queens, an indie rock band from Dublin. Key song highlights were tracks ‘Suffer’ and ‘Be By Your Side'.
They closed their set joined by Lord Huron member Misty Boyce for track ‘Liffey’, despite a slight sound level infrequency at times, they were definitely worth the watch and a great edition to the evening.
Lord Huron are continuing their tour with a final UK date in London, before returning to the US.
Further tour details and information can be found on their site here.
Setlist:
Who Laughs Last
Looking Back
Bag of Bones
Ends of the Earth
The Ghost on the Shore
Wait by the River
Secret of Life
Used to Know
Ancient Names (Part 1)
Long Lost
Watch Me Go
I Lied
La Belle Fleur Sauvage
Frozen Pines
Meet Me In The Woods
The Night We Met
The World Ender
Nothing I Need
Not Dead Yet
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