+44 - Live In Manchester
[1-2-3-4 Records]

A Travis-less +44, makes a low key entrance in contrast to front man Mark Hoppus’ reputation with Blink 182. Instead they stride meaningfully into their bounding and lyrically reflective material, leaning largely on debut album material.

‘Lycanthrope’ gives substitute drummer, Gill a chance to earn his corn and provide the broad, mid-tempo drive. He adeptly crafts a groove for Hoppus to ride his dragging, thoughtful vocals over. A theme that continues into the power pop, plead of ‘Baby Come On’ that gives the pit energy and a bit of rhythm.

Power ode, ‘Little Death’ represents the biggest departure from the lead man’s other project, as slow chiming guitars start the mournful sojourn. Eerie ambient interludes elevate the two tier vocals, scattering slow soul searching cries in the verses, before the emotion takes over and an emo/punk plain is reached. This range is well-received and the expected cries for Blink 182 songs are easily suppressed.

Hoppus has not lost his enthusiastic and chatty stage presence, he’s just flushed away the toilet humour and not too many complain about that. ‘Chapter 13’ keeps the yearning touch ticking, it is an apt demonstration of mood building that is facilitated by the rumbling percussion and slow stabbing, lingering guitars.

Tonight’s searching set represents a progression for Hoppus and could render Blink 182’s “indefinite hiatus” longer than many critics truly expected.