Conan Gray | Between Friends
O2 Apollo, Manchester
7th November 2024
American singer-songwriter, Conan Gray, combines indie ballads and 80s-style stadium anthems in a modern pop formula to portray self-reflective storytelling. As a former YouTuber, Gray doesn’t shy away from social media having had multiple viral TikTok hits, garnering a huge Gen Z fanbase and landing him a seat at the table with some of modern pop’s greats. Kicking off his tour in the UK for his new album Found Heaven, Ed Chadwick reviews the opening night of two sold-out shows in Manchester.
The supporting duo, Between Friends, must be subscribed to the ’ brat autumn’ motion, combining elements of tech house, distorted guitars, and pop lyricism, reminiscing that of Dua Lipa. Almost a Kidz Bop version of Confidence Man, with their choreographed energy pumping into the crowd with each beat, the brother and sister were a fitting warm-up for the main event.
From the barrier to the back of the balcony, loyal, dedicated, and self-declared ‘coneheads’ were rewarded with Conan Gray’s spectacular showmanship entrance. His shag hairdo, colourful leather clothing, and platform boots constructed an extravagant glam rock-inspired look. His demanding presence filled the spotlight of a smokey, violet-lit stage, with undeniable confidence – even if it was somewhat dampened by a wave of rising phones; a common theme in gigs nowadays.
People only loosely familiar with Conan’s discography would expect an evening full of melancholic ballads, so when the bright, glassy tones of Fainted Love’s synths began, a sense of pleasant surprise was shared between the mums and dads of the audience. The song felt like a driving sequence from Miami Vice, with its continual, high-tempo bass contrasting with Gray’s agonising acceptance of minimal love. He wooed the crowd with his struts across the stage and majestic hair flips. Freddie Mercury-esque fist pumps were shared between Gray and his fans, conducting the crowd of star-shaped sunglasses and colourful cowboy hats.
After a few more vibrant and theatrical songs (such as 80s-inspired Wish You Were Sober and Eye of the Night), Gray then engaged in one of his infamous crowd interaction segments. From fans requesting Fortnite dances to Conan offering mosh pit advice, this part of the evening was filled to the brim with laughs and charm. After jokingly mocking the size of the Apollo – claiming it to be an “intimate” gig – he introduced People Watching as we moved into a more stripped-back and vulnerable part of the show.
The shift in mood silenced the screams and cheers, allowing Gray to sing into a vacuum of raw emotion and honesty. The Story saw him strum melodic country-style guitar parts with precise fingerwork, not dissimilar to that of early Taylor Swift, whilst portraying a moving tale of sincerity. In Holidays, he brought a cosy wintery feel to the stage as he sang of his longing and reminiscence of his hometown in Texas. The artist’s vocal range and capacity was really on show here, going from the full-throated high notes of the opening songs to more earthy but often twangy tones in the middle part of the setlist.
It’s hard not to keep mentioning the 80s as it’s a very clear influence on both Gray’s recent releases and his performance. Returning to the anthemic sound, the title track Found Heaven and Boys and Girls brought his flamboyantly nostalgic glamour back to the show – this time, with a hint of Gary Numan. A highlight of the night was Lonely Dancers, a fusion of OMD’s Enola Gay and Men Without Hats’ The Safety Dance, showing an unrepeated, yet fascinating version of Gray’s lyrical delivery. Even Gray’s movements felt robotic, directly paying homage to the electronic sounds of the 80’s new wave movement.
A fan interaction led to Conan referring to the Manchester crowd as “Mancelions” – perhaps a language barrier between the English North-West and central Texas – declaring that there is “no more fun” as we reached the heavy hitters of the set.
A single spotlight found a lonesome Gray as the opening acoustic chords of Heather began. If anyone has heard the recorded version of this song, let it be known that it holds much more passion and general umph live – as did most throughout the set. With each instrumental layer, the unrequited love song grew, building up to a climactic peak. As the end of the viral track Memories played, Gray exited the stage, leaving many of his fans in tears, eager for his return.
Chants calling for Gray to reinstate his place on the stage rang through the venue. Beating drums, laser light shows, and a fog machine working overtime created a stadium-like atmosphere – almost constrained by the walls of the Apollo. Now dressed in a black sequined cape, Gray performed the encore, with fan-favourite Maniac working the crowd for every last bit of energy the room had left to give.
Conan Gray is a dedicated showman, from his technical musical ability to his demanding stage presence, his versatility in style produced an upscale performance and it’s fair to say that after his sold-out Wembley Arena show this weekend he will be following in the footsteps of his friends Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish.
Please note: Use of these images in any form without permission is illegal. If you wish to contact the photographer please email: mel@mudkissphotography.co.uk
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Conan Gray – Website | Facebook | X
Words by Ed Chadwick, you can find more of his reviews at his author profile.
All photos by Melanie Smith – Louder Than War | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Portfolio
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