The group’s initial stages started to take form at the dawn of the 90s in Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, England. The early formation of Embrace consisted of brothers Danny and Richard McNamara (lead vocalist and guitarist respectively) as well as a tentative bassist. The trio started to write and record material, usually with the assistance of a drum machine.
However this would soon change with the addition of drummer Mike Heaton. By this point the group were regularly composing and laying down tracks, acquiring enough material to land several gigs around town. During this time the group did not have a stable name so they ended up going through an assortment of titles such as Christianne F, Shimmer, Merchandise, Curious Orange etc...
The group eventually settled on Embrace. They recognized that there was already an American hardcore punk band with this name so before assuming the title they contacted frontman Ian MacKaye for permission. MacKaye warned the group that it might cause confusion, but overall was accepting of the proposition.
Embrace gradually stepped up the quality of their recordings transitioning from a cassette recorder to a 16 track recoding studio. Though their sound became more refined their early material was still lo-fi and was released exclusively on cassette tapes.
The group started to pick up popularity around Leeds, with one of their tapes managing to make it into a local fanzine. The group even caught the eye of the renowned publication Melody Maker; however, they did not receive positive reviews. This particular write up caused the band to re-evaluate their sound and in a sense instigated them to build a more rich and complex style.
In 1995 Embrace welcomed it’s newest member, bassist Steve Firth and in 1997 they issued their single “All You Good Good People” through Fierce Panda Records. 1997 also saw the release of the two EPs “Fireworks” and “One Big Family”. A Year later they issued their debut album “The Good Will Out”, which leapt to No.1 on the UK Albums chart. Their two follow up albums 2000’s “Drawn from Memory” and 2001s “If You’ve Never Been” also faired well on the charts both making it into the top 10. The group also embarked on several critically acclaimed tours. The tour for their debut album found them playing alongside Coldplay.
In 2002 Embrace was dropped by Hut Records and signed to Independiente Records. Their 4th studio album “Out of Nothing” was released in 2004 and reached No. 1 on the UK Charts. It featured four singles, including the hit “Gravity”, which was co-written by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The compilation album “Dry Kids: B-Sides 1997-2005” followed and in 2006 Embrace released their 5th studio album “This New Day”, which proved to be their 3rd album to top the UK charts.
The band went on a three year hiatus starting in 2007; however in 2011 they announced that they were working on a new studio album. They signed with the label Cooking Vinyl in 2013, but did not release their 6th feature length album until 25 April 2014.
Ocean Colour Scene may not move many records as they did at the stature of their 'Moseley Shoals' distinction in the 90s, however they demonstrated Glasgow's Barrowlands simply why they keep on offering out venues here and there the nation as one of the best live acts around.
Their current tour is a festival of the fifteenth year since the arrival of that collection. The mediating years have seen the band's broad claim blur sort of as their mix of 60's style Rhythm n' Blues and Folk Rock has tumbled from design, and the takeoff of Damon Minchella from bass obligations, supplanted by Dan Sealey and Andy Bennett on bass and cadence guitar individually, may have been seen by a few as indicating the demise chime for the one-time Britpop top picks.
Notwithstanding, the change to a five-piece appears to have revived the imaginative squeezes inside the gathering, as prove by a come back to structure with a year ago collection discharge 'Saturday', and in light of their Barrowlands execution on Friday night, it surely hasn't hurt their live sound.
In the opening a large portion of the show, the band tore through the tracklisting to their 1996 fantastic 'Moseley Shoals' collection from beginning to end, guitarist Steve Cradock indicating from the opening riff of 'The Riverboat Song' through to a storming solo on collection closer 'Escape' simply why he is a standout amongst the most regarded musical artists around right now.
Specific highlights were the swarm satisfying 'The Day We Caught The Train' and 'You've Got It Bad', which offered a drum solo from Oscar Harrison that shook the establishments of the old dance hall. In the middle of times, the more melancholic style of 'Covering Your Pockets' 'It's My Shadow' and 'The Downstream' showcased frontman Simon Fowler's flexibility as both a vocalist and a musician.
Peter “Hooky” Hook was the bassist for the English post-punk band Joy Division and New Order. Perhaps one of the most important artists for British post-punk, now touring with his own band The Light, he continues to sell out shows performing handfuls of classic tracks that are simply so important to fans. Humble onstage, the frontman leads his tight backing band as they begin the night with Joy Division's 'Dead Souls'.
The Unknown Pleasures tour focuses on Joy Division's two albums and a selection of New Order's discography. Beginning with a proficient rendition of six Joy Division tracks played almost back to back, the only break being the majestic 'Closer' by New Order. The audience applaud manically as they watch on beneath the gloomy stage lights as the band reanimate the hypnotic classics such as 'Atrocity Exhibition'. Continuing on from this, Peter Hook conducts his musicians in a rendition of New Order's brilliant 1986 release 'Low-Life' in full and fans simply watch in awe as they see the album brought to life.
Their encore features some of the most well known tracks from the two band's careers, the likes of New Order's 'Temptation' and 'True Faith' are performed with the synth tinged guitar led melodies and each note bounces round the room. A truly momentous performance of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' rounds off proceedings and leaves fans chattering about what they've just seen all the way out of the venue. About to embark on a huge US tour, Peter Hook plays beautiful homage to his two former bands in this intense live show, a must see.
sean-ward
I’m not totally convinced that there’s really such a thing as post-Britpop, but if there was, Embrace would be a good example of what that sound would involve; they were one of the first bands to pick up the baton left after that movement fizzled out int he late nineties, and interpolate those influences with a darker indie rock sound. Since the release of their debut, The Good Will Out, in 1998, they’ve earned themselves a sizeable cult following in the UK, had two platinum records, and had big-hitting singles make a name for them, like ‘All You Good Good People’, ‘Come Back to What You Know’, and England World Cup song ‘World at Your Feet’ back in 2006. After taking a hiatus throughout the mid-noughties, they returned with a new self-titled album, earlier this year; it went in at number five on the charts, and they played a sold-out tour in support of it across the UK in May, with career-spanning setlists met with raucous singalongs from the crowds; despite some reservations about the quality of Danny McNamara’s vocals, the shows were largely well-received, and the band are now already turning their attentions to a seventh studio album.
Joeg_67
Short
When they finally decided to make an appearance on stage they were rather enjoyable, unfortunately as everything felt like it was getting into a swing they buggered off stage which only felt like a 40 min set, they did reappear for an encore but this was possibly the shortest concert I have ever experienced & to be honest feel a bit ripped off by the entire experience
BB71
Very enjoyable evening with a very excited crowd. The show certainly didn’t disappoint and Yeah Yeah Noh were fantastic too. Definitely worth the price for the evening. Brilliant venue. Brilliant bands. Brilliant evening.
Daniel_Bishop
Was really good to see him again as I was working away at the time
He played old and new songs would definitely recommend to see him again
Hope he plays Manchester soon
Mike Ellaby
mike-ellaby
Love the bluetones so naturally enjoyed mark playing solo and acoustic.
Brilliant interaction with the crowd and great set!
Chris Helme was also excellent.
Tom sail was good, first time I've heard him.
Love the venue aswell.
scottwise
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