Let's put this marker down now. Green Lung will headline Bloodstock, they will headline Download and they will eventually, and potentially eventfully, headline Glastonbury. Now we at ROCKFLESH aren't in possession of a crystal ball but we are steadfast in our certainty of this for three reasons. 1)They are utterly incredible this evening as will be attested further on in this diatribe. 2) Their speed of evolution as a band is frankly astonishing. Midway through tonight's show, Tom Templar recites a roll call of the venues that they have played in this city during their journey to the Ritz headliner status. Green Lung have done their growing up in the glare of the public eye and the band before us now is a completely different beast the one played Star & Garter in 2019 or even the one we witnessed supporting Clutch at the Academy in 2022. 

Before our very eyes they have become an astute and forensically slick live outfit. Even their material is developing at a rate of knots, with the addition of The Oosettes this evening giving tracks like ‘Songs of the Stones’ and ‘May Queen’ additional dimensions. 3) They have crossed over in a way that we haven't seen since all the bully boys at school also decided that they liked Guns N’ Roses. This evening's audience is an astonishingly diverse melee of old and young, metallers and intrigued indie kids, frequent giggers and the one-show-a-year fraternity. Green Lung’s sprawling appeal is quite remarkable, and it will only continue to grow.

Satan’s Satyrs are returning from self-imposed exile and their last time this city was way back in 2017. They were an odd concoction back then and reunited after a four-year hiatus they remain a distinctly odd concoction. They come across as a bastardised version of T-Rex, Glam Rock served up in a distinctly discombobulated fashion. There is an air of 60’s garage rock, with scene pioneers MC5 and The Stooges regularly brought to mind. But both those acts had a level of conformity in their chaos, Satan’s Satyrs feel consciously messy and deconstructed. Chords are spliced and nothing feels like it is where it should within their hurtling maelstrom of sound.

This wild unpredictability within the veil of standard rock 'n' roll feels incredibly deliberate. The band are obviously having a whale of a time continuing to live out their rock star fantasies and Clayton Burgess comes across as particularly made up to be once again treading the boards. He continues to have the air of a very young Jagger and he trades licks with Jarrett Nettnin like they are never been away. Subtly subversive it potentially proves too undefinable for those gathered upfront, but still transfers into a highly enjoyable and also quintessentially intriguing 25 minutes.

The roar that greets Unto Others is impressively dense and gives the impression that their appearance is as anticipated as the headliner. Like Green Lung, Unto Others’ trajectory has been gaining momentum over the last few years and on the strength of tonight’s set they prove the hyperbole makers have got it dead right. By using steadfast cornerstones of rock’s numerous connotations, they have managed to conjure up something simultaneously familiar but also refreshingly different. They seamlessly mould jaunty pop punk with the atmospherics of Goth. It is euphorically anthemic with a wonderfully ethereal air.

The crowd lap it up, stirred by the entertaining accessibility of the whole thing. Unto Others have realised that engagement is all about bringing the “bangers” and their set is full of crowd-pleasingly catchy singalong ditties. ‘Jackie’, ‘Suicide Today’ and ‘Can You Hear the Rain’ drip with unashamed commerciality. They seem unashamed to dip into the earworm school of songwriting and the simplicity of their choruses allow for mass communal participation. It is only when they cover ‘Pet Sematary’ by the effervescent Ramones, that the penny drops that they are the natural successor of punk's erstwhile forefathers. Like Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy before them they have realised that great songs don’t outstay their welcome. Call it happy goth or call it punk with self-reflective emotion, whatever it is, it is bloody brilliant and the reverence they receive at the end of the set shows that they are now ready to headline these size of venues by themselves. 

Tonight is both an ascension and a coronation. It is the moment that Green Lung graduate from buzz band to big deal. The Ritz is sold out to F*ck and it has all the makings of one of those “I was there” moments. With all the expectation on their shoulders, it would be easy and understandable if Green Lung fluffed their lines but they get everything right. They put on an absolutely awe-inspiring show that is choreographed enough to feel immaculately entertaining but also has a grounded gritty element that keeps them anchored to their roots. 

John Wright and Matt Wiseman are literally put on a pedestal, hoisted up into the rafters on a highly impressive organ and drum riser. With steps surrounding it, it provides an irresistible playground for Tom and Scott Black who constantly race up and down, enraptured by the additional space. It just adds to the playful nature of the whole endeavour, tonight might be an incredibly important stepping stone in their elevation up Metal’s hierarchy but they are still determined to have fun and that vibrant, vivacious atmosphere transfers itself into the hall.

What is most astonishing is how animated and current they make music from a bygone era feel. Without sounding detrimental they are essentially re-cycling what Black Widow, Jethro Tull and Blue Cheer were doing way back then. But Green Lung do it with such panache, energy and conviction, breathing new life into what many saw as a spent force. Like Unto Others they lean into the simplicity and organic nature of our music, stripping it of all its convoluted excesses and getting back to its core beauty. Green Lung are pure engaging anthemic rock in a way that hasn’t been seen for a good while. There is no hidden agenda here, just a pure unadulterated love of music that they are playing.

All-female Folk trio the Oosettes have been added to the roster for the duration of this tour, and they are brought on for ‘Song of the Stones’ (and then stay for the rest of the set). Their earthy choral vocals give what is already an astonishingly haunting track additional emotional resonance. It feels special but the point is that every song this evening feels like a moment. Green Lung attack their material with  tenacity and ferocity but also care and conviction so that nothing feels like it's on cruise control. There is no going through the motions, this is a band giving us every iota of what they've got and it is absolutely remarkable.

Encores have now become rather a pantomime-like exercise, but this evening is one of those moments where it feels like the crowd is demanding one not because they are going along with a well-rehearsed self-ordained ritual but because they absolutely want, in fact, need, more. Green Lung are happy to oblige and make no attempt to hide the smiles of elation that are plastered across their collective faces. Tom takes time to state how much they enjoy playing Manchester and again this feels like a truism as opposed to a soulless platitude. The encore itself is a riotous run-through of perhaps their biggest numbers, though even three albums in they already getting spoilt for choice. ‘Old Gods’ leads into a magnificent ‘Let The devil In’, replete with gargantuan levels of audience participation.

 But as is now becoming customary it swells to a conclusion with a quite incredible rendition of ‘One For Sorrow’. Once again it is back to its beauty in that it is a simple song, with a simple refrain and a simple melody. But that's what makes it so magnificent. Green Lung have rediscovered the uncomplicated splendour of uncluttered rock. It speaks to our heart and it speaks to our soul and that is why they will, within the decade, headline the biggest stages there is. Tom leaves us with the news that they are going away to record their much anticipated fourth album. If they continue with the trajectory that they are on, and there is no reason it won't, on their return the world will indeed be their oyster.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Green Lung + Unto Others + Satan's Satyrs