Albert Hall, Manchester

I skipped Valentine’s Day.

We were both busy. It happens. We spoke on the day and reassured each other that we “weren’t one of those couples” and got on with our lives, thinking we’d tackled both cliches and consumer-centric romance in one swoop. We’d won. Eight days later we’re sat on the balcony of Manchester’s Albert Hall and Jehnny Beth is lost in a swamp of heady strobes pleading with us to “adore life”. Turns out we’d lost.

That’s what Savages have managed to do on Adore Life – they are galvanising their audiences with a kind of confrontational picture of togetherness. This super-tight display at Manchester’s finest concert venue was no exception. Opening with the throbbing pulse of Sad Person, the band were brimming with a bold, calculated seriousness. The stage setup was minimal, leaving Beth ample room to be consumed by the post punk shudderings of her bandmates. New tracks like Slowing Down The World, T.I.W.Y.G. and the anthemic Adore all shook the very foundations of the abandoned chapel they were commanding.

Husbands from Silence Yourself created total pandemonium among the awe-struck moshpit as did Hit Me, which only got played after Beth made a callout for any requests. The band’s connection with their audience was palpable – fans worshipping at their altar, absorbing every ounce of ferocity and determination and turning it on one another. When one fan had to be pulled over the barriers for safety, the band halted the noise without hesitation. “One down everybody down,” Beth told the crowd, “Love each other. Care for each other.”

It summed up a night with one of the country’s most vital live bands eloquently. As the final chords of Fuckers rang in our ears we sheepishly left the venue. That’s what you get when you mess with love. We won’t make the same mistake next year. Sorry.