Pelican/Ni – Yes (Pink Room), Manchester – 13/08/25 (Live Review)

Both Pelican and Ni are in the UK for ArcTanGent, (I’ll get there one day), so it’s a great opportunity to catch them doing their thing. I don’t know Ni at all, but I’ve been waiting to get the chance to see Pelican for over two decades (!), so am very excited.

Yes isn’t a venue I’ve been to before, but I like it. Melvins are also playing Manchester tonight, which is a bit of bad luck for both bands really, as I’m pretty sure there are more than a few shared fans between them. Regardless, those in attendance tonight are in the right place as it turns out.

Ni

I arrive a few minutes or so into Ni’s set. They appear to be some form of avant-garde progressive post-metallic jazzcore act. Or something like that. It puts me in mind of a jumbled, yet coherent, mix of bands like Bossk, The Callous Daoboys, Ephel Duath, Fantômas, and Sumac. At least, those are the ones that spring to mind as I’m watching them. It’s good stuff.

Their music is labyrinthine and instrumental, and I like what I’m hearing. It’s chaotic in places, but tightly controlled. The atypical rhythms, contorted bass, and creative percussion make for a hypnotic collection of songs.

It’s a complex and intricate affair, but the band put a lot of energy into it, and it wins me over quite easily. Ni’s music has a strong presence, bolstered by their performance. They get a strongly positive reaction from the crowd.

An unexpected win from a band I was previously oblivious to.

Pelican

Well, it has been years in the making, but it’s finally Pelican time, and I’m ready. The band have so many top songs, they can’t obviously play them all tonight, but I’ll happily take what I can get.

Pelican’s new album Flickering Resonance is very strong, and they favour songs from this tonight, playing five out of the album’s eight tracks – which illustrates how good it is. They start with opener Gulch. It’s a joyous experience from the start. They follow this with Cascading Crescent, and the band are clearly into what they’re doing. Their animated energy is infectious. Pining for Ever is next, and like its two predecessors, comes across heavier live.

We then go back to Australasia for Drought, which really showcases Pelican’s older chunky metallic side. Some of the riffs have real teeth, and they bite down hard. It’s back to Flickering Resonance again after this for the hooky riffiness of Indelible, before the arrival of Strung up from the Sky, the first of three cuts from What We All Come to Need. Richly atmospheric, with crushing heaviness when it needs it, it’s a another great song.

The Cliff is up next, Forever Becoming‘s instrumental version, (although I can’t help but hear the vocal version in my head anyway), followed by Ephemeral, which is one of my favourites. It’s an exemplar of doomgroove catchiness.

After a brief bass and feedback workout jam, The Creeper allows Pelican to really get down and worship The Riff, (as if they haven’t been doing this all night, of course). Just wonderful. Pelican close with the ranging Wandering Mind. The song is a masterclass in mood-rich gradually unfolding melodic post-metal worldbuilding, one that finishes off tonight’s show in fine fashion.

Pelican were brilliant. A great sound, a great performance, and great songs. What more could you ask for? I leave very happy and satisfied, and I’m certainly not the only one. After wanting to see them for so long, I have not been even remotely disappointed. I hope that the next time I get to see them I don’t have to wait as long.