Music > Live Reviews
Lottery Winners
EPIC Studios
15/04/23
There was quite an atmosphere, and even an elevated level of anticipation, within Epic Studios as a sizeable crowd awaited the arrival of Lottery Winners, the jangly indie-pop quartet from Leigh in Manchester. Quite a few had obviously seen them before – the band supported The Reytons last year at The Waterfront. Some other loyal fans follow them all around the country – one couple were apparently seeing the band for the 50th time. But others, myself included, were experiencing them for the very first time – wondering, perhaps, if six good numbers on a setlist constituted a jackpot.
The Lottery Winners
But there was another reason for the band's excitement. In addition to appearing genuinely surprised by the spectacular turnout at Epic Studios. Lottery Winners' last three albums all made the UK Top 50, with 2021's 'Something To Leave The House For' reaching number 11. However, this is not enough for guitarist and lead vocalist, Thom Rylance. Despite the band having been together fifteen years, nothing short of a Number 1 slot for the new album, 'Anxiety Replacement Therapy', will stop his Mum from nagging him about getting a 'proper job'. Which might explain the timing of this string of UK gigs (of which Norwich is the second), a concerted effort to boost pre-orders ahead of the album's release on April 23rd.
The Lottery Winners
They kick off with 'Worry', opening track from 'Anxiety Replacement Therapy', before earlier singles 'Little Things', 'The Meaning of Life', and 'Elizabeth' all get a dusting down. Rylance has chosen to wear a white t-shirt, topped with a sleeveless brick-red jumper. He reminds me a lot of Lancastrian comic Peter Kay, possesses the same amiable jocularity, and doesn't seem to mind when the band rib him for looking like a big ham. The banter with bass player Katie Lloyd sounds like something out of TV series 'Car Share', whilst guitarist Robert Lally and drummer Joe Singleton are each quick to throw in a gag or two as well.
But it is the music that we are here for, and with tracks like 'Let Me Down' and 'Sertraline' from the new album sounding so good, that Number 1 spot might not seem so fanciful after all. Just to make sure, though, an artist's easel appears and, whilst Katie Lloyd takes lead vocals on '85 Trips', Rylance knocks off a three-minute work-of-art that will later be won by one of tonight's lucky album pre-orderers.
The Lottery Winners
'Money', the great new single featuring Sean Ryder is given an airing and, even though the Happy Mondays man is not in the house tonight, a member of the audience is given their own three minutes of fame – invited up on stage, given a tiny pair of maracas, and given the chance to impress us with their 'Bez Dancing'. Other set highlights include fantastic new track 'Burning House', with its great line about “just sitting on the couch, chilling out, as it all burns down around me”. This could well become the 'Chaise Longue' of 2023.
The encore is the band's cover of The Housemartins' 'Emerald City/Caravan of Love', sung by Thom, Katie and Rob, and they leave us with the crowd-pleaser '21', and its refrain of “I don't want to go home” reverberating around Epic Studios. Lottery Winners certainly hit the jackpot with me tonight, and served up a whole bag of bonus balls as well.
The Lottery Winners
Support came from Colchester band 'Pet Needs' who headlined Voodoo Daddy's earlier this year, as well as supporting Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls at the UEA last October. In fact, lead singer Johnny Marriott was a student at the UEA for three years, and met his wife in Norwich nightclub Mercy. As a band, they don't take themselves too seriously, and had a great tale to tell about their previous night's hotel in Liverpool. They also used a moble phone app on-stage to measure the audience applause, telling us that our volume level directly influenced their gig fee. They reminded me a bit of embryonic Blur, but with that UEA connection also recalling the quirky flavours of both 'Gladboy' and 'Bag of Cans'. Their set highlight for me was 'Tracey Emin's Bed', a witty party tune with the memorable line “It's like Tracey Emin's bed in my head, kind of creative, but mainly just a mess”. Fresh, and high-octane maybe, but definitely not a mess. Their album, 'Primetime Entertainment', was released last September, and was mixed and mastered by Frank Turner.
Pet Needs
Another great night at Epic – once again the sound and lights were spot on, and the staff are always so friendly. Let's hope that Rick Lennox and the team can continue to attract further contemporary and trending music acts like these.
Full photo gallery HERE