Our friends and clients Night Engine have experienced what could be described as a meteoric rise in popularity. In just a year and a half together they have garnered attention from many a large and influential publication and have received glowing reviews from even the most hardened music journos.

Here in ADOtowers, we have desk danced to their recordings on several occasions. When they told us that their latest tour supporting the Kaiser Chiefs would see them playing in our home city of Manchester, we jumped at the chance to see them live.

Collecting our complimentary tickets from the box office, we realised that the Night Engine boys had kindly arranged seats for us in the posh section in the upper tiers. There was something that felt quite bizarre about sitting in theater seats whilst watching a gig. No hustle and bustle amongst a sweaty crowd, no elbowing our way to the front. Instead, plush cushioned seats and icy chilled beer; as is the way on the upper floors of the Manchester Apollo.

Still relatively new on the scene, stepping out on the grand stage at the Apollo and their largest gig to date, must have been somewhat daunting. Away from their usual London crowd and met by thousands of quizzical northern Kaiser Chief fans, there must have been a few trembling knees. However, if they were nervous, it certainly didn’t show.

As the bright glowing spotlights brought the stage to life, and the impatient, silent crowd stared, Night Engine strode confidently onto the stage to take their places. The lead singer, Phil, cuts a dashing form with slicked back red hair, dark braces, smart shirt and wide tailored trousers. The look is pure Eighties gold, as is their infectious sound.

Thumping beats, classic synth and funky bass make up a sound that is simply irresistible. Those velvet seats saw many bouncing rear, and a peep over the balcony revealed that even those hardened Mancunian Kaiser fans couldn’t resist a bit of a toe tap.

If you love the music of Talking Heads, Bowie and Roxy Music then this fantastic four piece should be right up your street. We thoroughly enjoyed their fantastic set. We always love to see our clients do well in their line of business, but viewing such tangible success from a comfortable velvet vantage point really put the icing on our cake!

You can find out more about Night Engine at their website and you can listen to their music right here. Put on your dancing shoes and turn it up loud.