Courtney Barnett Manchester review: ‘A good-old fashioned rock show’

The seven-date UK leg of the ‘Creature of Habit’ tour, which kicked off at Glasgow’s Barrowland on Tuesday, October 13th and culminates with a two-night residency at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, comes following a period of transition for the Australian artist.

Barnett closed her independent record label, Milk! Records due to financial pressures, impact of the pandemic and the fatigue of running an independent business, subsequently making the decision to relocate to Los Angeles “on a whim” and then spent nearly a year decamped in the Joshua Tree desert, where she had a creative breakthrough after spotting a praying mantis in the desert and her fourth studio album, ‘Creature of Habit’, was born.

It was the beginning of a fresh chapter, and one that Barnett wrote the latest instalment in at Manchester’s Aviva Studios on Saturday night as the performance opened with a rendition of ‘Stay In Your Lane, driven by Barnett’s distorted guitar, Bones Sloane’s driving bass line and some impeccably tight drumming. ‘City Looks Pretty’, featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 19, combined Barnett’s fuzzed-out guitar, a distorted bass and steady, driving drumming, kicking off what felt like a good-old fashioned rock show with no elaborate effects, staging, pyro, smoke or fireworks, leaving everything centred solely around the music, on a high.

‘Avant Gardener’ blended a thick bass line, restrained drumming and Barnett’s overdriven guitar, on a track that briefly erupted into a gritty jam with a chugging guitar, hard-hitting drumming and disorientating yet intense flickering lights. Barnett and her two-piece band swiftly transitioned into ‘Small Poppies’, which showcased Barnett’s skill at seamlessly shifting from spoken-word verses and melodic singing.

‘Mantis’ saw Barnett’s vocals complemented by Sloane singing the lower harmonies and also saw a curtain with Mantis on it unveiled to the Aviva Studios audience. “How are you doing? I can’t believe how many people are here right now,” she joked. “We put out a new record out six months ago, so we’re playing a bunch of new songs. Here’s a new one,” she added before leading into ‘Same’.

‘I'm Not Your Mother, I'm Not Your Bitch’ felt like the most fiery, defiant song on the setlist as Barnett’s chugging guitar was complemented by a thick bass and powerful drumming. ‘History Eraser’ saw Sloane share lead vocals with Barnett, ‘Need a Little Time’ began stripped-back with Barnett’s electric guitar before the bass and drums crept in, creating a rich wall of sound. ‘Depreston’ saw Barnett declare “someone down here was yelling this before. This one’s for you,” Barnett said, dedicating the rendition to a fan in the audience, performing the track with a warm yet bright guitar, a prominent, low-end bass rumbling and intricate drumming.

‘Site Unseen’ combined a jangly, overdriven guitar and Sloane’s busy bass line. ‘Great Advice’ and ‘Sugar Plum’ continued with bright, jangly guitars, a driving bass and thumping drumming. “I’m having a great night, are you? Barnett asked before hailing Body Type, last night’s opener and recommending their new album, “I recommend you buy it on the way out otherwise I’ll have to take it back to Australia,” she jokingly added before wrapping up the set with ‘One Thing At A Time’, wielding her electric guitar as if it was Excalibur itself before taking a bow and departing to ovation, setting up the encore.

‘Mostly Patient’ was performed solo by Barnett with a warm electric guitar, ‘Canned Tomatoes (Whole)’ was dedicated to her friend and long-time manager Nick, ‘Pedestrian At Best’ felt like the perfect blend of indie-rock and punk, with distorted guitars, powerhouse drumming and a punchy bass to go with Barnett’s frantic, rapid-fire delivery before closing out the performance with ‘Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party’.

Barnett will wrap-up the UK leg of the Creature of Habit tour with two nights at the O2 Forum Kentish Town. Tickets are available here.