Johnny Foreigner Live

One thing you can guarantee with Johnny Foreigner is that they are going to bring the noise, and they did so again at Manchester’s Deaf Institute. Touring in support of both their new, free remix EP and their forthcoming second album, 'Grace And The Bigger Picture', the band seem to be enjoying playing the bigger stages that their increased stature that their growing profile accommodates, and they took to the stage with some vigour, creating the chaotic, joyous sound that they’ve come to call home.

Like many before them, the band are currently stuck in a form of limbo, as lead singer Alexei admits on stage. "We’re at the stage where we’re bored of playing stuff from our first album, but nobody knows the stuff from our second". Still, they power through all the trademark songs that have brought the fans out in force such as 'Eyes Wide Terrified' and 'Champagne Girls I Have Known'. It was probably most heartening that the newer material didn’t seem at all out of place in a set that had a heavy leaning towards older songs.

Gaining more fans has it’s drawbacks as well, though – despite the best efforts of the band and their record label, Johnny Foreigner’s second album has begun to leak out on the internet, and the band’s twitter infuriated twitter status were backed up on stage, with one song being introduced as "You leaked our album on rapidshare two weeks early, you cunt". Harsh words, but it’s with this kind of passion with which they’ve forged their career. With all their whooping guitars and beautifully executed, Pixies-esque two part harmonies between Alexei and bassist Kelly, they’re still an absolute triumph to watch on stage. Later in the year they’ll be touring with the wonderful Internet Forever – you’d be a fool to miss out.

Words by Matthew Britton
Photos by Miriam Baynes