(Pic: Shirlaine Forrest)
D Percussion - Castlefield, Manchester - 5.6.06


(Pic: Orphan Boy by Shirlaine Forrest)

Surely only in Manchester would the security team be so resilient that the general public are locked out of the area until the first bands on have nigh on finished their sets. If this years D Percussion had been rescued at the last minute by new sponsors then clearly the people on the doors hadnt been told till 30 minutes in. Sadly it meant that the general populus didnt get to see the awesome Orphan Boy who time and time again are proving they're one of the best bands the city has to offer, even if the Cleethorpes lads are honourary Mancs. Dipping into the Clash and The Jam, Orphan Boy probably wouldn't have existed if it wasn't for the Libertines and Pete Doherty and as you look at how Dirty Pretty Things and Babyshambles have turned out you get the feeling that their only legacy left will be the tremendous talent such as the council pop of Orphan Boy that will soon take over the rest of the country as well as Manchester.


(Pic: Pedestrians by Andy Stubbs)

The same sadly can't be said for The Pedestrians who have yet to deliver on that early potential. Frontman Liam Manton looks paler than Pete Doherty on a good day and apart from the fact that he's gobbier than Johnny Borrell, the tunes are a join the dots look at the music scene in 2006 and there's little to set them apart from the pack. In the past Designer Magazine has defended the band on the basis that one day they will deliver the goods, but there's only a limited number of times when you can wait for that gig that raises the bar. Today we were left thinking the only way Manton's going to rescue his career is split up the Pedestrians and reform his old band 50Leaves who surely were leagues above this.


(Pic: Omerta by Andy Stubbs)

Omerta have had many things going in their favour, but up until todays performance at D Percussion that one thing that let them down was a lack of image. We were never expecting them to employ Shayne Wards stylist and go to Topman (Ed: Sorry to most of the indie bands around), but the classic all black look works wonders for them as they finally seemed to have nailed that direction and with a new outfit comes a slightly darker sound that is definately more Interpol than The Killers. Aaron Starkie's dips and drops a little less than he used to, but he's a comanding presence demanding that you take the band ever more seriously while Nick Moyle gets more and more intense as each song is played and by the end of the set you get the feeling its a relief for him to be offstage. Omerta seem to have been around Manchester for ages but they just keep getting better and better.

The Alterkicks appearance on the mainstage marks the growing presence of the Liverpool five piece who managed to have bagged a slot on The Automatic's forthcoming tour. Sticking close to the template set up by previous Merseybeat bands such as Cast and The La's they sidestep the Coral and Zutons Beefheart love affair for simple straightforward pop songs which even to new ears, as surely most of todays crowd will be, they have a collection of singles which most bands would love to be able to write. For an afternoon set at D Percussion with rain threatening constantly this band seem like cocksure headliners rather than mere support slot. "Do Anything I Told You" is probably the best song on the year - dont agree, name a better one!!!


(Pic: Jordan by Andy Stubbs)

Metrodome and Jordan had to go down as the "were you there" moment of this years D Percussion as two 12 year olds took to the stage and delivered easily not only the best set on the Urban Unity stage, but potentially the best set of the weekend. Starting off playfully enough there's an inherent novelty value, but you can't deny that Jordan can flow and spit as good as any of the other MCs on stage today and with old heads on young shoulders that manager to bring in condemnations of paedophiles, drug dealers and the hilarious stage exit of "all police are wankers". With hundreds of acts on at D Percussion it was surely a case of if you didn't see or hear about Metrodome and Jordan you clearly weren't there!!!


(Pic: Jenna G by Shirlaine Forrest)

Last time Jenna G was at D Percussion it was with her previous band Un Cut and this solo project sees her taking it back to her roots with pure drum'n'bass all the way. Sticking to the tried and tested jazz influenced side of the DnB scene at times it sounds a little dated in comparison to the rest of the urban scene, but for what it is it stands up tall with G's powerful vocals holding it altogether. Originally starting off as a dance event perhaps the greatest thing about D Percussion is its ability to mix up the genre's like no other and when Liam Frost follows Jenna G the contrast couldnt be more apparent. Frost is the next in line of acoustic troubadours from the city, see Stephen Fretwell for reference, and while it's worthy and the guy has a genuine talent it's almost as if he's gatecrashed a good party and turned the music down. In the right setting Frost can deliver a great set but today Designer Magazine was indifferent.


(Pic: The Pipettes by Shirlaine Forrest)

That indifference continues to the Longcut with a series of bands that deliver enough, but never give you that extra. Polytechnic have recently supported The Strokes and Doves and while they offer a musical history of Manchester's musical history with a little Joy Division and Nine Black Alps thrown in it's hard to imagine them being anything but a support act. Still they're much better than the Pipettes who have managed to get past critics without them being seen as the backing band to Mike Flowers Pops at best and at worst it's not even printable. If they had the songs to back them up the novelty would be forgiveable but sadly the Pipettes success has been to the detriment of the band Lucky Soul (www.myspace.com/luckysoulluckysoul) who do what the Pipettes do only about a zillion times better. And The Young Knives are simply what you get when you cross the Futureheads and The Housemartins and while another Designer Magazine correspondent swears they're an underrated talent, today Designer Magazine missed the point completely.


(Pic: The Longcut by Shirlaine Forrest)

The Longcut have been in and out of our affections since we witnessed them relatively early on in their career supporting Graham Coxon, but while it's hard to imagine them ever becoming major players such as Doves or Elbow tonight the Longcut are on fire which is why we leave straight after in the full knowledge that whatever AIM do it will only be an anticlimax. As soon as the Longcut walk on stage they're like conquering heroes and for once the phrase "all about the music" really is apparent because if it was down to personality they really would be as engaging as The Young Knives. With the best cuts from their recent album and the EPs the Longcut will have gained more than a few fans from this years D Percussion and even Designer Magazine walks away happy that they're back on form after a couple of disappointing shows recently.

Another D Percussion and another year goes by. Who'd have thought when it started all these years ago that D Percussion would last ten years and hopefully there will be anoher ten to come

Alex McCann
Photos: Andy Stubbs www.shoot-first.com
Photos: Shirlaine Forrest www.shirlainephotos.co.uk

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STUBBS DOES THE DAYLIGHT AT D PERCUSSION
D Percussion Photo Gallery by Day

Andy Stubbs was there at midday to capture the bands and people of D Percussion capturing Snowfight In The City Centre, Pedestrians, Omerta, Metrodome & Jordan, Gideon Conn and Daywalkers. He also captured members of the crowd before they got too wasted - were you one of the peeps that got caught by Designer Magazine's lenses!!!

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FORREST IN THE CITY CENTRE
D Percussion Photogallery at Night

Designer Magazine's Shirlaine Forrest did the longhaul at D Percussion staying steady with the lense while all around her were getting progressively more tipsy. As our photos show some were worse than others but as well as capturing drunken mancs she captured the following bands in order - Young Knives, The Pipettes, The Longcut & Hit Em Up Squad

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