Manic Presents: Royal Blood September 29th, 2023, in New Haven, Connecticut
Words and Photos by: Jacklyn Lipscomb | @photobyjacklyn
UK based rock band Royal Blood was welcomed to New Haven's College Street Music Hall for a night to remember on Friday, September 29th. Fans of all ages braved the rain on a dreary New England day to catch the duo live on their first tour back in the U.S. in over a year. Celebrating the release of their newest album Back To The Water Below, vocalist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher crafted their most memorable setlist to date.
In a haze of smoke and a wall of LED stage lights behind them, the duo took the stage and kicked off the night with crowd-pleasers "Out of the Black" and "Come on Over" that instantly got the crowd cheering, singing, and up on their feet as the electrifying guitar riffs and backing beats filled the music hall. Following the songs from their 2014 debut album were favorites like "Lights Out" from their 2017 album How Did We Get So Dark?, "Trouble's Coming" and "Typhoons" from their 2021 release Typhoons, as well as their newest singles "Pull Me Through", "Mountains at Midnight", and "Shiner In The Dark." The band truly incorporated something for everyone to enjoy and continued to express their gratitude for their fans and their unwavering dedication throughout the years. Although the duo let most of the music do the talking for them, Kerr and Thatcher both had their time to address the crowd, as Thatcher proceeded to connect with the most enthusiastic audience members by awarding them with a cheeky smile and an occasional drumstick thrown their way. However, the most notable highlight of the night belonged to a boy that was standing in the front row with his mom, exhuberantly singing all of the words to his favorite band's songs and gaining attention from the band as the set progressed further. After obtaining a guitar pick and a drumstick that Kerr and Thatcher hand delivered to him, Ben finally took the opportunity at the end of their performance to bring the little boy onstage, letting him stand atop his drum set to earn a powerful cheer from the audience and an unforgettable memory that would last a lifetime. Finishing the night with their hit single "Figure It Out", Royal Blood affirmed why they are currently one of the most notable names in the alternative rock realm and left us all buzzing with anticipation for the next time they tour the East Coast.
Check out the full gallery of Royal Blood below!
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