The Lathums review: Wigan’s finest ride high in Manchester after album triumph

It's easy to forget just how new a band Wigan lads The Lathums are (and it's Lah-thums, not Lay-thums) when they have a venue the size of Manchester's O2 Victoria Warehouse under their spell.

Fresh from the success of their debut album 'How Beautiful Life Can Be' going into the charts at number 1, the venue had already been upgraded and still sold out.

Despite being packed to the rafters and very warm, frontman Alex Moore is clad in a three-piece suit: "As you can see, we're suited and booted, we've scrubbed up well for a momentous occasion with you lovely people."

The band rattle through a short but sweet set that clocked in at just over an hour, after kicking things off with 'Fight On'.

They veer from Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane tinged indie to stripped back acoustic ballads, but it somehow all makes sense.

It takes a brave band to slow things right down halfway through. leaving Alex stood alone onstage with two spotlights shining and an acoustic guitar.

He apologised: "This song is back by popular demand. I had a few upset comments the other day!" after they stopped playing 'This Place O' Yours'.

He performs with the confidence of someone who's been doing this for decades, and the fans are singing along to every word.

There's something quite endearing about seeing a mostly male audience donning The Lathums branded bucket hats (the definition of knowing your crowd) and swaying emotionally arm-in-arm to some heartfelt ballads.

Alex asked if there was room for "one more singy songy one before I bring the band back," and there were definitely no complaints.

You can't go wrong with disco balls, and they used them liberally for 'All My Life' with a glittery result – before the ultimate crowd-pleaser of 'I See Your Ghost'.

There's more than a nod to Madness with this tune, and the crowd love it, happily skanking away as the stage is bathed in a suitably spooky shade of purple and green.

The singer takes a chance to get serious for a moment, insisting: "We thank you from the bottom of our hearts – we wake up every day happy now thanks to you".

A sparkly confetti cannon rounds things off with the closing encore of 'The Redemption Of Sonic Beauty' and 'Artificial Screens'.

Something tells us they'll be playing arenas next time, and The Lathums are truly only just getting warmed up.

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