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The Home Team hit a Home Run at Rebellion, Manchester
There’s about a 66% chance that we would ‘Walk This World’ with The Home Team, and then some. From an engagement to an audience louder than life itself, this show had something for everyone. Hailing from Seattle’s bustling music scene, alongside being hugely popular on TikTok, The Home Team enticed an energetic, passionate crowd at Rebellion in Manchester. Supported by Andreas, and The City Is Ours, the crowd metaphorically ripped the roof from Rebellion.
Andrés, honorary Welshman (IYKYK), opened the show with a spectacular performance leaving you wondering what genre they were playing with, alas, it turned out that Andrés can do it all. From scratch happy-hip hop to a metal-inspired finisher, Andrés knew how to wow a crowd and certainly got the party started. Bringing out the lead singer of The Home Team for ‘Casual Bender’ was a genius move in terms of getting the audience to really pay attention from the offset. Andrés laced up sheer talent, humour, and a raw passion for music so it’s not hard to see why they were invited to support The Home Team.
The City Is Ours took the party to another level entirely which was surprising given they were stranded in the Netherlands less than a week before the show, having to take land, sea, and air just to make it back to the UK. With very clear inspiration from early Alexisonfire, clean vocals worthy of a Dallas Green protégé, and a frontman serving charisma by the bucketload, The City is Ours put on a show worthy of headlining their own tour. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised to see them on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock, or at the very least, competing in Metal 2 The Masses.
From the moment we stepped foot into Rebellion, the air was buzzing with excitement, so you can imagine the roaring cheers when Brian, John, Ryne, and Daniel hit the stage. Brian’s cheeky demeanour, infectious happiness, and hip shaking got the crowd riled up, whilst Ryne amped the crowd up, belting the lyrics to every song. Each member of the band displayed a remarkable degree of skill and confidence. Their sound was crisp, and every note resonated perfectly within the venue. The guitar riffs were sharp, the bass lines were deep and engaging, and the drums provided a solid backbone that drove each song forward. It’s clear that The Home Team have spent countless hours perfecting their craft, and it was incredibly impressive to witness, for it’s not often that a band can engage with an audience so seamlessly, creating an inviting atmosphere that made everyone feel part of the experience.
Starting the set off strong with ‘Brag’, leading into ‘Right Through Me’, it was actually difficult to hear the lyrics as it sounded like every word sung was screamed back at them by ever-loving, passionate fans. The synergy between band members was evident as they moved seamlessly through their setlist, maintaining a high level of engagement, only heightened by the incredibly romantic Walk This World With Me which resulted in a proposal. Huge congratulations to Anna and Alex from all at Out Of Rage!
One of the most impressive aspects of The Home Team’s performance was the undeniable synergy between band members, which translated to them not just playing music together but rather communicating through it. The stage interactions were fluid as they exchanged glances and energy that spoke volumes about their connection to both each other and the audience. This made each song feel like a collaborative effort rather than individual performances stitched together. For instance, during instrumental breaks, you could see them feeding off each other’s energy, which elevated the overall vibe of the gig. It’s rare to witness such harmony in a live setting, and it made for an unforgettable experience.
The setlist for the evening was another highlight worth mentioning. The Home Team curated a selection of songs that not only showcased their range but also kept the audience engaged from start to finish – regardless of whether they knew the songs. For example, opening with fan favourite, ‘Brag’, immediately got everyone singing along, creating an electric atmosphere right from the beginning. As they progressed through their set, they included tracks from their latest album alongside classic hits, ensuring there was something for both new fans and long-time supporters alike.
Words: Ellie Archer
Photos: Libby Percival
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