Kyle Falconer, the enigmatic frontman of The View, is currently on a solo side quest ahead of the release of his upcoming album Lovely Night of Terror. Featuring collaborations with a mix of 2000s indie favourites (Peter Doherty, Dave McCabe and Justin Hawkins) and newer artists (The Lottery Winners and Jamie Webster), the project has already begun to turn heads. Stopping off at Manchester’s Night & Day Café, one of the city’s most beloved small venues, Falconer delivered a generous 90-minute set packed with around 20 songs.
Drawing from across his career, the setlist blended some of The View’s classics, his solo material, a couple of covers and three tracks from the forthcoming record. Backed by a full band, Falconer looked completely at ease, cracking jokes with the crowd and even showing off a surprisingly convincing range of UK accents between songs. It made for a relaxed, intimate atmosphere that suited the venue perfectly.
Live, the most striking thing about Falconer is still his voice. Its range and raw power were on full display during “Family Tree”, “Grace”, and the new track “Lady Coachella”. It was perhaps most evident in his rendition of “Covers”, originally recorded with Paolo Nutini, which featured trumpet flourishes before seamlessly rolling into “Face for the Radio”, where the crowd assisted with vocal duties.
The new material offered a glimpse of what’s to come from the upcoming album, with “Midas Touch” standing out. Built around a jaunty, upbeat rhythm, the song carried an easy confidence, with Falconer and the band clearly relishing the chance to show it off. If the reaction in the room was anything to go by, it’s likely to become a fan favourite once the album lands.
A mid-set toilet break for Falconer left bandmates Drew Palmer (guitar and trumpet) and Ryan Mackay (bass) to begin a rendition of Oasis’ “Half the World Away”, which Falconer took over on his return, much to the delight of the crowd. The band sounded tight throughout, matching Falconer’s energy while keeping the focus on the songs. A particularly fun moment arrived during “Same Jeans”, which briefly detoured into a snippet of “Laid” by James before snapping back into the indie anthem.
Falconer closed the night with a passionate cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way”. His vocals pushed to their limits, the strain only adding to the song’s grit, a fitting end to a set that showcased Falconer’s ability to command and engage a crowd.