On Friday in Manchester, Melanie Baker took to the stage upstairs at Gulliver’s, one of the Northern Quarter’s most iconic pubs. Touring her brilliant debut album Somebody Help Me, I’m Being Spontaneous whilst juggling a second job and then turning up to a room that’s only half full must be tough, but if there was any disappointment, neither Baker nor her band let it show.
Opening with “AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!”, the short burst of chaos that also opens the album, Baker wasted no time bringing the energy. In less than a minute, complete with multiple cathartic yells, the song immediately set the tone for the night, while also giving each member of the band a chance to make an instant impression.
From there, Baker and the band barely let the momentum dip. “Sad Clown” followed, as it does on the record, and instantly showed how comfortable the band’s dynamic has become. The chemistry between the four-piece carried the set throughout, with Adam’s huge drums giving many of the songs their backbone, Mia’s bass adding a constant sense of movement, while guitarist John repeatedly stole attention with brilliantly expressive lead lines.
Baker has a knack for writing songs that build into huge crescendos, something that works even better live. Nowhere was that clearer than on “My Head Fell Off Last Night”, which eventually dissolved into a wall of noise cut through only by an outrageous guitar solo.
In contrast, the older track “Waiting List” showed a different side to her songwriting. Beginning with just Baker, sparse percussion and soft backing vocals, the song slowly expanded into something genuinely affecting. Intimate, reflective and emotionally exposed, it carried shades of Phoebe Bridgers. Unlike some of the newer tracks that lean into wit and self-deprecation, this one sat fully in its sincerity.
Between songs, Baker chatted casually with the audience about making the album in a shed in Wales, proudly explaining that it was self-produced and self-engineered. The conversation never felt forced; she came across as honest, grounded and genuinely grateful for the support.
There were lighter moments too. Before “Bye Bye Loser Blues”, Baker admitted she had looked up the chord progression on Ultimate Guitar tabs before coming onstage because she’d forgotten it (she also specifically asked any reviewers not to mention this… oops). The confession got a huge laugh, but the song itself, complete with harmonica and John’s backing vocals became one of the night’s most charming moments.
The final stretch ramped the energy back up. “Bored” proved itself a real crowd pleaser live, before “Slugs” slowly built from a stripped back opening into something vast, with the room loudly shouting back: “I don’t want slugs in the cupboard!”
Finally came “Why Would I Want To Be Just Like You”, driven by a moody bassline and some of Baker’s most playful vocals of the night. Just as it seemed to be winding down, the song lurched into overdrive with a massive extended outro, giving the band one last chance to show off their ability to create an absolute racket whilst never losing control.
I don’t see Melanie Baker as someone who is going to be playing to half-full small rooms for much longer, and I hope all of us at Gulliver’s on Friday can look back fondly at this when she’s headlining Glastonbury. But genuinely, Baker only feels a break or two away from something much bigger, because all the foundations are already there. Her songwriting is funny, quirky and emotionally sharp, her band are hugely talented, and together they make even a half-full room feel completely alive. At around £15 a ticket, catching one of her upcoming shows is a no-brainer. Plus, she’s got some of the best merch around.
The post Melanie Baker, Live in Manchester: A Sincere, High-Energy Set. appeared first on Indie is not a genre.