The Folk Implosion @ YES, Manchester, 25.11.25

An outfit whose members emerged during the era when Do-It-Yourself was a necessity, not a buzz term, US alt. rock stalwarts The Folk Implosion’s current UK tour underlines their resourcefulness. Their first dates on this side of the pond in over quarter of a century, playing eight gigs in as many days, the jaunt sees lo-fi wellspring Lou Barlow and John Davis handling all onstage duties between themselves.

Taking to the Basement stage at YES, the tag team approch sees Barlow, looking not entirely dissimilar to Frank Zappa, switching between guitar and bass with Davis on guitar and laptop backing track triggers. If-you-wrote-it-you-sing-it lead vocals, supplemental backing vox and the occasional turn behind the drumkit sees all bases covered.

The set starts almost at the very beginning of the duo's output, with songs from scruffily melodic 1994 debut album Take A Look Inside, Better Than Allrite welds Beatles harmonies to a Stones-y guitar strut while Slap Me is gnarly 60s power pop. The lo-fi ethos of heartfelt over technically accomplished remains true and proud as slightly rickety but compelling renditions of EZLA and Spiderweb-Butterfly underline.

In addition to their strong musical rapport, the duo have a solid line in stage banter. Noting the gig is Davis’ first ever visit to Manchester and how the ‘Implosion were founded at the height of grunge as a post-punk outfit, the pair pay homage to local icons The Fall and Joy Division. Barlow's annecdote about his tinnitus caused by a recent Dinosaur Jr show and a debate about the type of footwear acceptable for fathers also features.

Easily bearing comparison with their back catalogue, tracks from impressive new LP Walk Thru Me are well represented. Lou's gorgeous alt. pop missive My Little Lamb and the wistful Moonlit Kind stand alongside a poignant rendition of The Day You Died dedicated to John’s father and a Dylanesque take on Bobblehead Doll. The band’s calling card, Natural One is greeted with a cheer as it strikes up, the combination of shuffling hip-hop beats, sinewy bassline and insectoid guitar riff a stone cold classic almost thirty years on.

Wrapping up, My Ritual from 1999s wonderful One Part Lullaby and Walk Thru Me lead single Crepuscular close the set in redoubtle style. Better Than Allrite? Exponentially.