Darwin Deez Wins Over Crowd as NME Radar Tour Hits Manchester

Darwin Deez had a tricky job at Manchester's Academy on Wednesday night, April 28, as the only act on the NME Radar Tour showcase bill not from the music-loving Northern city.

With Hurts, Everything Everything and fellow locals the Heartbreaks also on the bill, winning over a crowd partisan towards homegrown acts was never going to be an easy task for the New York hippy rocker and his crew.

However, Deez and his three-piece band just about accomplished it, largely due to some disputable dancing and constant praise of Manchester -- with the frontman at one point hinting, "we hope to come back here many, many times in the future." Of the set itself, it was recent singles 'Constellations' and 'Radar Detector' that unsurprisingly drew the best responses from the crowd.

The real stars of the night, however, were Manchester-based -- though mostly Newcastle-born -- oddball pop group Everything Everything, who confidently strutted their way through a 35-minute set that highlighted previous singles such as 'MY KZ, UR BF' and 'Photoshop Handsome,' alongside cuts from their upcoming, as yet untitled,debut album, out late summer. During an enthusiastically received set they gained a surprise fan as Deez himself cavorted amongst a noticeably awed young crowd.

Hurts headlined the evening, despite still not having a release to their name, but impressed with an oddly detached Pet Shop Boys-inspired collection of gothic electro pop. Choosing to say little between songs, the be-suited four-piece instead allowed their music to do the talking, the soaring arpeggiated synths of 'Better Than Love' providing the set's apex.

The NME Radar Tour continues tonight at the Sugarmill in Stoke. For full dates visit the NME site.