“This
is a very, very, very old song” says JC introducing Standing Where
It All Began, and in the terms of tonight’s crowd I am a very,
very, very old man.
Martha
could have been made for me. Their soft, oddly comforting Durham
accents are the same as my nan's, they share my dad's politics and my
mum's level headedness. I first heard the name on the lips of Ace
Bushy Striptease, a localish and rather wonderful noise pop band who
struggled to describe just how wonderful they were. I had crush on
them after the first play of their EP (self released on Discount
Horse
records) and by the time I found out that 1978, Smiling
Politely and Gretna Green were about poet/activist Audre Lorde and
the 1915 Quintinshill
rail disaster, respectively, it was a full blown love affair. I
started to notice Martha stickers on guitars and
flight cases. Every band seemed to adore them. Not just because their
music is incredible but because they are genuinely warm, funny,
unassuming people. It wasn't long before they were my favourites too.
Gorilla
in Manchester is big, and cavernous and it's possible to keep you’re
coat on and not be cold. Not quite as big as Heaven in London, a 1200
capacity venue Martha filled the night before, but certainly big
enough. For someone who once witnessed Martha entertain 20 citizens
of Leamington Spa in a matinee show, it's nothing short of a thrill
so them in such a lofty position. Bloody hell, they deserve it.
After
wonderfully entertaining sets from Wormboys (a winning mix of
Throwing Muses and early PJ Harvey. Halt That Rattle is song worthy
of your attention) and Orchards (a No Doubt-esque troupe of good
vibes that I confidently predict will be flooring them on the main
stage at Indietracks very soon) Martha slink on stage to a heroes
welcome. And really it's the crowd that make tonight so special.
Tonight
is a celebration of the misfit and the marginalised. Beside me
someone wearing a full beard, full make up, flashing plastic animal
horns and a massive smile is having the best time ever. Two girls at
the end of the crush barrier kissing. All around me people leap
around smiling and singing the words as if their life depended it on
it. I've not seen a bands audience so dedicated to fun since the
Flaming Lips in the late 90's. It's an occasion this. A jubilee of
what makes us unique and what we have in common. To a generation,
Martha are their Smiths or Manics. A band to love and believe in. If
you go on Insta you'll see an array of tattoo's in Martha's honour.
They mean it. And what's warming is they treat following Martha like
following a local football team away, anyone is invited and the
bigger the following the better.
Not
so long ago people at pop shows felt very woke and weirdly worthy in
welcoming LGBT
amongst their numbers but tonight all that is ,wonderfully, turned on it's head and
I feel oddly proud that this middle aged dad has been accepted as a
fellow Martha fan. In a time of division, political awfulness and
nervous unrest, Martha and Martha fans shine like a beacon. It's
truly a joy to go out and have such a fun time and a testament to the
tired yet ultimately true adage that we are stronger together.
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