Tame Impala

Manchester Arena

February 11

BEING the biggest headline gig Australian psychedelic outfit Tame Impala have played to date, they made sure they pull out all the stops to make it a special night.

No fewer than four times does ticker tape create the impression a snow storm is covering the Manchester Arena, first taking punters by surprise after opening track Let It Happen, which sets the tone for the 90 minute set to come.

The five piece, led by frontman and songwriter Kevin Parker, tear into the eight minute long track, which has been in part the reason why they have been transformed from group with a cult following to a mainstream stadium band.

The group's debut Innerspeaker was a much more guitar heavy record than subsequent electronic influenced follow up Lonerism and current album Currents.

Parker's reverb soaked guitars remain but added into the mix are the multiple layers of synthesisers which help to create the huge sound which fill the cavernous arena.

The 21,000 capacity venue is by no means full, but for the Australian band it is a big step into the limelight, with Parker saying the gig shows the band has "made it".

Befitting a gig of its scale, the band puts on a captivating light show, suitably psychedelic and full of kaleidoscopic visuals and lasers.

Album tracks The Moment and Yes I'm Changing go down well, and Parker keeps checking with the adoring masses if they are ready for the next track, which may as well be a rhetorical question watching the adulation from the mosh pit from the safety of my seat.

Fan favourites Elephant and Eventually get the audience moving, before an epic rendition of Apocalypse Dreams brings the main set to a close.

The group are received as returning heroes when Feels Like We Only Go Backwards marks the start of the encore which also features New Person, Same Old Mistakes, the last track from Currents.

Before the release of Currents, Parker, who sings and plays most of the instruments on Tame Impala albums, said he was growing weary of the album format, but luckily Manchester got to experience the show stopping musicality of the powerful five-piece before they consider giving up the live arena too.