What’s a socially-distanced, seated gig actually like? Julia Mason reports back for EML from her experiences of seeing Working Men’s Club play live in Manchester

Working Men’s Club, live at YES, Manchester, 4 October, 2020

This was my first gig since seeing Fontaines D.C. in Norwich and Brixton Academy back in February, over seven months ago. Excited did not even begin to describe how I felt.

Working Men’s Club are playing three sets; 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. With appetite for live music so high and their debut self-titled album released on Friday, all three gigs sold out immediately, but I managed to get a ticket for the 8pm one.

Come Sunday and I’m sitting in the beer garden at YES. While I’m chatting to a friend who had been to the 4pm show, the band come into the beer garden and sit in the corner, all very relaxed. Loaded with information of what happens at the gig (more on this later), I wandered round to the queue for the final gig at 8pm. Masks on of course, and having checked that I’m on the track and trace NHS app, I head up to the Pink Room.

Entering the room was a bit like walking into the unknown. Everyone had a designated seat, and they are spaced out accordingly. You are warned not to move from your chair unless it’s for a comfort break, and even then you must put your mask back on. Drinks are ordered through an App and brought to you at your seat. Once I’d worked out how to order my drink, I could relax and enjoy the show.

The venue itself worked hard to put the measures in place to ensure everyone followed the rules inside the gig itself. I was told I would be removed if I didn't, and that was reassuring, if slightly unnerving compared to how gigs are usually enjoyed!

It was a small room and the smoke machine added an atmosphere of intensity to the gig. There was lots of chatter but inevitably being spaced out it did feel a little sparse. The crowd was slightly subdued but I suspect many were like me and it felt a little strange to sit at a gig.

Working Men’s Club come on and it’s straight into Tomorrow. I do love this band. Echoes of Joy Division with the electronica sound but Working Men’s Club add a funky guitar which gives it a slightly more accessible feel. Cook a Coffee is one of my favourites from the album, and that’s when my chair dancing got into full swing.

Being just three rows from the front, I felt physically close to the band and that really helped with my enjoyment. I was able to lose myself in the music and was chair dancing like mad, which did get me some comments at the end.

This is a band riding high on critical acclaim. They’re full of confidence and menacing swagger which is perfectly reflected by their bombastic music which simply makes you want to move.

It was a challenge not to be able to dance but I resisted the urge to stand up.

Lead singer Sydney Minsky-Sargeant didn’t say a word to the crowd throughout which I did find a little odd, bearing in mind the circumstances. But he is a feisty character and interacted with the crowd as much as he was allowed, snarling forward to those in the front row.

Current single Valleys got the biggest cheer and sounded huge live, while the stomping Teeth rounded off the show. It was all over too quickly. I knew there was no encore (remember that insider information I mentioned earlier…) so as soon as they went off, I nipped to the stage and grabbed the setlist, with my mask on of course.

The chat afterwards was so positive, 100% worth doing. Fellow gig-goers were excited to see live music and really enjoyed it. Yes, it was a bit surreal and not at all what we are used to, but it’s definitely better than nothing.

The whole experience was exciting. I was doing something I love doing, ok in a very different way, but I got such a lift from the gig and a boost for my mental health.

It was great to get a taste of how gigs are possibly going to have to be staged going forward. I just hope that lessons can be learnt through these experiments so that shows can be staged elsewhere. Goodness only know how long it will be until my next gig. Fingers-crossed it’s not another 7 months…

Chair dancing in Manchester - a taste of the future for live music?