Don Broco’s performance at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on December 13th was an unforgettable evening that blended their signature high-energy performance despite an almost event-cancellable setback.

After a pretty intensive couple of months in North America, Broco announced a rather spontaneous ‘Birthday Party’ tour to welcome their latest release. Broco Arms was back and open for business, with the four lads taking over The Dockyard pub in Salford Quays serving punters their pre-gig tipple. The band also offered free entry to anyone who’s birthday fell on the date of the gig – a nice touch. 

The night kicked off notably, with frontman Rob Damiani taking the stage wearing a neck brace to open with Gumshield, the first song on ‘Amazing Things’. This was followed by the geographically topical Manchester Super Reds No1 Fan, minus the infamous Beckham lookalike who historically makes an appearance. Damiani’s charismatic presence and unwavering determination to deliver an outstanding performance was evident, despite apologising for having to ‘dad dance‘ his way through the set. 

The band’s decision to delve into their older repertoire added an extra layer of excitement to the evening. Fans were thrilled to hear classic Don Broco hits that might not have been a regular feature in recent setlists. Particularly Fancy Dress, from 2012’s ‘Priorities’, received a mighty reception from the audience. A temporarily halted mosh, and an elevation of many up onto shoulders, demonstrated the appreciation towards the record that went un-played for so long. The nostalgic journey through the band’s discography evidenced the connection between long-time fans and the early days of Don Broco. 

A few more bangers followed from ‘Amazing Things’ – the emotive and band-favourite One True Prince followed by the sporadic, yet heavy riffed Bruce Willis. The stripped back performance of One True Prince allowed for a quick breather for the moshers, before guitarists Simon Delaney and Tom Doyle returned to the stage and a wall of death was curated. The two proved yet again to be a formidable duo, seamlessly trading solos and connecting to the crowd through their contradictory stage presence. The crowd atmosphere at Victoria Warehouse was nothing short of electric mirroring the band’s energy, embracing the eclecticism of Broco’s performance. 

Despite the neck brace, Damiani’s on-stage banter was as entertaining and engaging as ever. His ability to connect with the audience, combined with the band’s infectious energy, transformed the concert into a communal experience. The crowd responded with fervent sing-alongs and enthusiastic cheers. T-shirt song, as tradition, closed the night in true style. 

Setlist:

  • Gumshield
  • Manchester Super Reds No.1 Fan
  • Uber
  • Come Out to LA
  • Fancy Dress
  • Pretty
  • Superlove
  • One True Prince
  • Bruce Willis
  • You Wanna Know
  • Yeah Man
  • Revenge Body
  • Endorphins
  • Birthday Party
  • Everybody

Encore:

  • Fingernails 
  • T-shirt Song

Words by Liv Henderson