Live Review: Massive Wagons - O2 Ritz, Manchester
29th November 2024
Support: Cam Cole, Florence Black
Words & Photos: Martin Hingley
On a cold, wet Black Friday in Manchester, Lancaster’s finest rockers, Massive Wagons, take to the stage for a sold-out show at the O2 Ritz - one of the band’s largest headline gigs.
Opening the evening is the one-man band Cam Cole, who appears on stage wearing a Slash-style top hat and delivering distorted vocals alongside heavy, blues-inspired riffs. Despite the heavy traffic around the venue causing some delays, the venue is already about half to three-quarters full, and though the crowd remains relatively static, they enjoy Cam’s performance. His guitar playing carries a Jack White-esque vibe, with distortion and bottleneck slide adding a unique flavour. Using a specially designed mechanism that allows him to play all his instruments at once, Cam captivates the audience, leaving the stage to a well-deserved round of applause.
Next up is Florence Black, a band steadily climbing the ranks (evidenced by their opening main stage slot at Download 2024). They have a noticeable fanbase in the room tonight, and for good reason - they and Massive Wagons occupy a similar rock subgenre.
Taking the stage to a loud reception, they launch straight into “Start Again,” the opening track from their latest release, Bed of Nails. Lead singer Tristan Thomas’s gritty vocals, combined with his heavy riffs and Jordan Evans’s punchy basslines, power the band through their 30-minute set with ease.
“Scream for me!” Tristan shouts as the band tears into the riff-heavy “Warning Signs” with Jordan stepping centre stage to hype the crowd. Closing their set with “Zulu” and “Sun & Moon”, the audience is in fine voice. Florence Black delivers a hard-hitting, riff-fuelled set that showcases their passion and leaves fans wanting more.
Since I first discovered Massive Wagons during lockdown, watching their growth and impact on the scene has been exciting. Moving from strength to strength over their last few albums, tonight’s performance at the O2 Ritz is a testament to their rise. Playing larger venues and selling out many tonight celebrates 15 years of the group. Kicking off with “Missing on TV” from their latest album, Triggered!, frontman Barry “Baz” Mills wastes no time energising the crowd, dashing around the stage with infectious enthusiasm.
A quick shift to their 2017 hit “Back to the Stack” ignites a roar from the front rows. Ever the showman, Baz soon has the audience spelling out “A.S.S.H.O.L.E” during a breakdown from their 2022 release. Midway through, the band introduce Matt Jones to support Baz on vocals. Baz explains he is struggling with a vocal issue but is determined not to cancel the show—a decision the crowd appreciate. Guitarist Stevie Holl’s beaming smile throughout the night epitomises the joy the whole band shares.
The show briefly pauses during “Night Skies” due to an incident in the crowd, but it resumes seamlessly once addressed. Baz takes every opportunity between songs to thank fans for their support, declaring, “It’s a thing of beauty, live music.” He also highlights the presence of Andy’s Man Club, who are at the venue raising awareness about male mental health and suicide in the UK.
Massive Wagons deliver a career-spanning set that embodies everything they represent as a band. The encore features “Ratio,” which inspires the loudest singalong of the night,
while Baz even joins the crowd for “In It Together” to cap off the main set.
Having once dreamed of playing the O2 Ritz, Massive Wagons it is clear they will be back—perhaps even headlining larger Manchester venues. With their high-energy shows, crowd-pleasing anthems, and lyrics that resonate with fans from all walks of life, there is no doubt Massive Wagons are cementing their place as a staple of British rock.
Photo credits: Martin Hingley
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