Following the hammer blow which was the news of the sudden passing of The Stone Roses’ ebullient and much -loved bassist Mani the day before, it felt strangely apt to spend the next night in the company of some of their Mancunian peers: Inspiral Carpets
The relationship between two of the Madchester Holy Trinity is an entwined one too, with the Inspirals’ psychedelic keyboardist Clint Boon playing a significant part in landing Mani the job in the Roses following a conversation with his brother, Greg. So, it’s no surprise on climbing the much-trodden stairs into Rock City, the instantly recognisable bass riff of the Roses’ classic anthem, She Bangs The Drums, blasted out from warm-up DJ Jack Wood’s set.
Taking to the stage in front of a no nonsense banner emblazoned with their moniker, the largely middle-aged crowd instantly roll back the years and blow away the worries of the week as the veteran garage rockers tore into their opener, Dragging Me Down. Resplendent in a technicolor short-sleeved shirt, towering frontman Stephen Holt patrolled the stage while Boon powered through his Prisoners’ inspired Hammond ‘60s organ riffs to his left.
The propulsive She Comes In The Fall proved another highlight, with pints held aloft and sweaty hugs between mates sharing 30-year friendships played out.
Propelled on by drummer Kev Clark, sporting a snazzy Uppermill FC shirt embossed with the band’s name (a nod to the band’s Oldham roots), the set maintained a terrific pace with bassist Martyn Walsh and guitarist Graham Lambert holding down the groove tightly throughout.
With new material due in February, the Inspirals aren’t resting on their laurels either despite the classic cannon of material they can draw on.
Joe is greeted with lusty applause while This Is How It Feels sparked a mass ‘both hands in the air’ singalong with the refrain of the heart-kicking chorus bellowed back at them long after the band had stopped playing. Another highlight was when an image of punk poet John Cooper Clarke signalled Let You Down featuring the unmistakable Salford drawl of the good doc
Throughout, a vintage selection of photos from the band’s near 40-year career flickered on the screens to the sides of the stage, with images of a pre-gig kickabout, tours of Japan and even an early shot of one-time roadie Noel Gallagher aired.
It’s a snap of a smiling Mani, taken during of the Roses’ reunion shows (which I imagine many of tonight’s audience were in attendance at), which stopped the crowd in their tracks though - "This one’s for our mate, Mani," Boon stated as he turned to look at the screen and a chant of "Mani, Mani. Mani" rang out.
The NASA-inspired Saturn 5 drew things to a rousing close before the masses headed out into the icy night to relieve babysitters or relive memories in nearby hostelries.
A much-appreciated evening which honoured Mani’s legacy perfectly.
Inspiral Carpets performed at Rock City on 19th November 2025.
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