With Sports Team’s latest studio album cover featuring an exploding stick of dynamite on its front cover, it’s quite fitting to know that the band are the live embodiment of this when they put on a show. A live show from Sports Team can only be described as an explosion of energy and chaos. The English alternative-rock band have been making a name for themselves in recent years, with a string of successful releases and live performances that stick with attendees for a long time. The band consists of lead vocalist Alex Rice, guitarist Rob Knaggs, Henry Young, Oli Dewdney, Al Greenwood and Ben Mack. As previously mentioned, the band released their sophomore studio album ‘Gulp!’ in September 2022 which was very well received amongst their growing audience and even received a four out of five stars review from the NME. The band now find themselves touring the electric record across the UK as they head out on their biggest headlining UK tour to date. We were lucky enough catch Sports Team as they took over the Manchester Academy for a reckless and wild show like no other. Support for the night came from Fat Dog, and from the chatter amongst the crowd many would consider this support act to be the best they have ever seen, they were that good!
As the excitement levels within the Manchester venue reached its peak, the band swaggered out onto stage and lit the room up, turning a level 10 excitement into a level 100 instantly. The group got the night underway in incredible fashion with “Here It Comes Again” and this was just the kicker. Frontman Alex Rice was all over the shop, from darting across the stage to jumping into the pit and onto the barrier to be swarmed by the adoring fans in attendance, he was just on a whole other level to what I’d ever seen. Throughout the night it was just a mixture of extreme chaos and good vibes as everyone partied ‘til their hearts content. Sports Team played a plethora of songs from the new album and from the earlier days of their careers. These guys are born to play live and to be on that stage as they seriously put on a live show that you just have to be a part of to understand. Sports Team finished the night after a brilliant set with an encore of “Here’s the thing”, “Kutcher” and “Stanton”.
SPORTS TEAM
Photos + Review by Lewis Roberts | Exclusively for Music, Why Not!
