Live Review : Dragged Under + Defences + Immerse @ Star and Garter, Manchester on June 16th 2022

It is hotter than the sun in the Star and Garter tonight. I love this venue for so many reasons, but upstairs always becomes a sweat box in any kind of heat and tonight is no exception. There are fans blowing hot air around the room. Superb. 

Absolutely worth getting in and down to the front nice and early for tonight’s opener Immerse. Metalcore from Bristol and brimming with energy, Immerse burst onto the stage and are an instantly likable force, despite some early technical difficulties involving their bass. 

Eager to get the audience riled up for the later bands, Immerse deliver a solid performance with stand out tracks ‘Glass House’ (despite the aforementioned tech difficulties) and the absolutely brilliant ‘Self Destruct’ . Acquaint yourself with ‘Self Destruct’ immediately, as it’s a such a good song and the latest release from these guys. Some of the riffs pack some serious groove, and it did the trick with igniting the audiences interest in them tonight.

I am melting by the time Defences take the stage!

Fresh from recently causing a storm at the Takeover stage at Download, Defences are a five piece slick sounding Alternative band who utilise dual vocalists to create their own brand of exciting and fresh metal. They have one person singing clean melodies and one person for the crushing growls and roars; these vocals infuse at points and clash wonderfully at others. I observe around the room that several audience members are here especially for them, there are die hards on the front row singing back every word. 

Second song ‘Say It’ Is a particular crowd pleaser, and closer ‘Gravity’ has some big moments and is perfect for ending their set, as the song is momentarily tender and thoughtful before exploding back into fury and rage. Its powerful stuff and I can appreciate why there is such an excitable buzz around this band at the moment. 

So if I had been wearing makeup this evening, it would have slid off my face and into my cleavage by now, no doubt about it. 

Dragged Under are here all the way from sunny Seattle… it’s probably not too sunny in Seattle, I don’t know, I’ve never been, maybe I shouldn’t comment on their weather… And boy, it’s hard to not like them! They are so infectiously fun, and a lot of that is bouncing off the lovely and warm front man Tony. He is like a ray of sunshine in the sweat box venue that is upstairs in the Star and Garter, he has bucket loads of charisma and is an excellent front for the band, as he really pulls forward all the energy they are all bringing to their performance. 

Opening with the catchy ‘Just Like Me’ the band at times remind me of a more grown up and brooding version of Sum 41. They are incredibly fun but also can bring home a more serious song when needed, ‘Weather’ goes hard and sits well in the set.

Tony made a comment that his throat was sore, but I couldn’t hear that in his performance, and by the time it came for the last song, the band let the audience chose what is should be. 

They closed with the massive ‘Crooked Halos’ and nailed the performance.  

Honestly, I didn’t really know what to expect from Dragged Under tonight. You know me, Queen of Industrial and the Nu – Metal Princess, I didn’t think I would enjoy something that ran along the lines of punk and metalcore, but I came out of Star and Garter in a great mood, and it wasn’t just because I was finally getting some fresh air. Very enjoyable and a band I would like to see go from strength to strength.