The last time Self Esteem performed in Manchester, she hosted three nights at the stunning, historic Albert Hall. With its stained glass windows, vaulted ceiling, and cherished Manchester charm, it provided a backdrop as rich in character as the performance itself. This time, however, the venue is the exact opposite – Manchester Academy is, quite literally, a large black box that holds a couple of thousand people. It lacks character, but its simplicity is non-distracting and allows complete focus on Rebecca Lucy Taylor and her beautifully choreographed group, which brings the essence of a thousand Albert Halls to the room.
As always, Taylor's performance is a visual delight. While it is clearly choreographed, every person on stage moves in total, mesmerizing harmony, right down to the slightest glance or subtle movement. The musicality is so vibrant that it at times feels like an exhilarating, telepathic improvisation among the group, reacting in real-time to Taylor's lyrics and storytelling. This is showcased in both bold, entertaining moments (like the lively movements and sexual drama of '69', and the exuberant hot-pink inflatable party of ‘Cheers to Me’) and in intense, fierce moments. During ‘In Plain Sight’, Taylor’s “what the fuck you want from me!?” shatters the ceiling, while the troupe writhes and moves like an agitated singular entity, creating one of the show’s most powerful moments.
The choreography effectively captures the emotional center of the performance: although ‘I’m Fine’ isn’t part of the setlist, its howling outro plays before ‘Prioritise Pleasure’, with the dancers moving like a protective pack of dogs, strong and cohesive. Conversely, moments of stillness and silence become more impactful by contrast. ‘Logic, Bitch!’ serves as the first respite of the show, featuring just Taylor in the spotlight, soon accompanied by her lone trumpeter, creating a genuinely breathtaking experience.
A similarly special moment occurs later during a brief sonic stillness. It’s common at concerts to experience a moment of unity among the crowd. Singing together and feeling connected to the thousand others in the room usually arises from the audience. However, tonight this magical feeling emerges from the stage during the a cappella rendition of “What Now,” as Taylor and her troupe gather in a circle under low lighting, singing for each other rather than the audience. The harmonies are exquisite, but the most profound moment occurs at the song's conclusion when they harmonize together again. It’s just one of many intimate and precious exchanges, including nods, smiles, winks, and hugs, between Taylor and her fellow performers, illustrating the love and strength shared among this group of women.
It’s almost unnecessary to say how moving, triumphant, devastating, and then uplifting the show is. Songs like ‘Focus Is Power’, ‘The 345’, ‘The Deep Blue Okay’, and ‘The Curse’ – sung back at Taylor with adoration, acceptance, and love from every voice in the room – speak for themselves. These are anthems meant to carry you through your day, and it certainly feels like everyone present has a deep connection to them. However, there are two particular moments in the performance that truly bring these themes of trying, failing, and accepting to life. The first is the beloved anthem ‘I Do This All The Time’, which opens the encore with a conversational tone: “old habits die for a couple of weeks, and then I start doing them again…” Taylor shares, without any instrumentation, as if she’s just chatting with us. Even though everyone knows the lyrics by heart, there's an overwhelming urge to refrain from singing along, resulting in a heavy silence until Taylor hits the chorus. It's a mesmerizing moment.
In a brief pause of silence after the song concludes, someone breaks the stillness and yells, “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!”, prompting a laugh and a thank you from Taylor. She then reveals, “I haven’t been doing a lot of that this year… Loving me… I stand up here and say all this stuff, but it’s definitely intermittent.” This honesty is what makes her songs resonate so deeply. They reflect reality and imperfection. However, it’s heartening to hear her declare that these are the best three shows she has performed, “EVER!”, and that she is the happiest she has been in a long time. Because while we’re all here to engage with songs about embracing imperfections, Taylor has delivered them in what may be considered a perfect show – making it a joy for all of us to celebrate together.
Words: Ims Taylor
Photography: Danny Payne
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During their last performance in Manchester, Self Esteem held a three-night series at the stunning, historic Albert Hall, which features stained glass windows and a vaulted ceiling.