Amidst the anticipation surrounding supergroups, there often lies the burden of high expectations, which aren’t always fulfilled. However, Sea Fever defy this notion entirely. With the release of their debut album Folding Lines in 2021, they effortlessly forged their own path. Comprised of members from Johnny Marr’s band, New Order and Section 25, the quintet have swiftly established themselves as one of Manchester’s finest bands. Following a triumphant performance at St Mary’s Church in Stockport last month, Sea Fever returned to the industrial town with aplomb on Thursday night to make their live debut at Bask.
With a wealth of successful live shows under their belt, the band certainly know how to kick off a performance and they did just that with the lively ‘Crossed Wires,’ which is the opening track from their debut album. The compelling and intense ‘Afterthought’ followed, featuring one of the standout vocal performances of the evening from lead vocalists Iwan Gronow and Beth Cassidy as they displayed a captivating question-and-answer style dynamic during the verses, before uniting for the explosive chorus.
After an exhilarating performance of the multi-layered earworm that is ‘Under Duress’, the band shook things up and introduced their first new offering of the night. Titled ‘Thrills’, the dynamic track featured Beth leading the way and exuded a 90s vibe that transported the crowd to another realm. Propelled by a magnetic bassline courtesy of Tom Chapman, the funky ‘Shouldn’t Have Been This Way’ ensued and it was impossible not to be mesmerised by the enthralling guitar prowess of Phil Cunningham.
Taking the helm on lead vocals once again, Beth spearheaded the charge on the energising electronic track ‘La Coup’. Celebrated for its ability to consistently provoke a spirited response, the invigorating track served as the ideal segue into the subsequent new offering, ‘Breaking Out’. In terms of curating a setlist, it’s evident that Sea Fever reign supreme and they seamlessly blended a flawless mix of old and new material. Mixing dark heavy basslines with intertwining pop melodies, the reappearance of ‘Dilemma’ in the setlist was warmly received and it was exhilarating to experience ‘Trigger Us’ again, which has become a fan favourite since its live debut last year.
For the members of Sea Fever, coordinating their schedules isn’t a simple task, given their frequent touring commitments with their respective bands. However, it’s abundantly clear from their onstage presence that the project is a labour of love for each of them – something that’s always most apparent during ‘De Facto’. During this performance, it wasn’t just Tom’s talents that were highlighted as he doubled up with synths and programming on top of his bass duties, but A Certain Ratio’s Donald Johnson’s, as he briefly joined the band on cowbell.
‘Built To Last’ brought the set to a triumphant close. Often celebrated as among the band’s most anthemic tracks, it highlights the talents of every member, with Elliot Barlow’s dynamic drumbeat shining particularly bright. Sea Fever continually manage to elevate their performance with each show and with album number two on the way and several shows lined up, they’re poised for a promising 2024.
Words by Laura Dean