The Melodrama of Manchester Orchestra

PHOTOS BY DIANA RICHTER

It's not often that you can distinctly hear the rattling of subway cars inside a venue, especially during a performance. But last night (Nov. 6) at the Subterranean as a hushed audience listened to Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra sing the quieter verses of "Where Have You Been" off 2007's I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child, Chicago's Blue Line roared in the background, fitting the manic ambience of the show quite perfectly.

Sandwiched between openers the Nevers and co-headliners Annuals, the Atlanta-bred quintet dramatically bounced between calmly romancing the crowd with subtle instrumentals and soothing vocals to rocking the hell out of the room. Singing lines like "If you knew I was dying would it change you?" from "I Can Barely Breathe," helped remind those twenty-somethings of a time when feeling something meant giving it 100 percent -- the angst, the heartache, the yearning -- all of it. Even during climatic moments such as "Golden Ticket" and "Now That You're Home," the audience stood frozen in awe of the raw madness onstage. But prior to taking his final bow, a solo Hull, armed with an acoustic guitar, wooed fans once more with lyrics such as "The party's over / Turn off the lights / All good things must end," leaving the crowd with nothing but the rattle of the Blue Line train. 

We asked: Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra has mentioned Woody Allen is more of a musical inspiration to him than any musician. The track "Sleeper 1972" is a nod to the neurotic director. Which movie would you like to inspire a future MO song?

Name: Carlie Trott
Age: 23
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Occupation: Music industry
"Donnie Darko."

Name: Josh Schoenhardt
Age: 16
Hometown: Westchester, IL
Occupation: Student
"300."

Name: Eddie Limperis
Age: 17
Hometown: Westchester, IL
Occupation: Student
"Bad Boys II."

Name: Dylan Maysick
Age: 19
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Occupation: Student
"Bottle Rocket."

Name: Isaiah Jackson
Age: 19
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Occupation: Student
"The Darjeeling Limited."

Name: Juliana Montane
Age: 21
Hometown: Sarasota, FL
Occupation: Student
"Rushmore."

Name: Ashly Powley
Age: 21
Hometown: Fort Myers, FL
Occupation: Guest services
"Shop Girl."

Name: Elizabeth Yaeger
Age: 26
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Occupation: Hotel food & services
"Little Miss Sunshine."

Vocalist/guitarist Andy Hull / Photo by Diana Richter

Manchester Orchestra hit the Windy City / Photo by Diana Richter

Hull and Co. crank out tunes from I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child / Photo by Diana Richter

Guitarist Robert McDowell / Photo by Diana Richter