Nicotine Dolls / Academy 2 / Manchester

Oct 4

Oct 4 Nicotine Dolls / Academy 2 / Manchester

The night might belong to the NY band the Nicotine Dolls, but first in support we enjoy a cracking set from London based four piece rockers Office Party. Chloe Smedley (vocals), Mert Benning (guitar), and Matt (T) Townsend (drums/Backing vocals) and Will Toogood (bass). Smartly dressed in shirts and ties (damn that must be hot / uncomfortable !) they delivered a fantastic, high energy set of alt indie tunes. Chloe has a great voice and owns the stage around her, moving freely, a smile constantly on her face, enjoying every moment of the experience. Track of the set for me had to be their latest single Breathe You In. Pounding drums, raucous riffs and lyrics sung with passion. Melody sections are soft and carry an infectious feel, and the track explodes in the chorus sections in to a pop-punk anthem.

Then here’s Alone a beautiful, soulful vocal that bursts into life after a minute or so. The tempo has everyone dancing along, arms in the air. They close the short set with their debut single Tongue Tied a delightful pop hit if ever I heard one !

Office Party had a confidence to them and style…. Backed up by great tunes. A band definitely checking out ! If their job was to get the crowd ready…… Job done !

Setlist

Start Again

Puppet

Lie to Me

Familiar Faces

Haunt You

Alone

Breathe You in latest single 2026

Tongue Tied

Nicotine Dolls hail from New Yorkers, and were formed in 2017. They released their first single Fake in 2019 and their debut album “An Attempt at Romantic came in 2025. Currently working on a new self-titled album, which is due out on 23rd October through BMG.

Stepping into the limelight to loud applause, they launch first into How Do You Love Me opened the set…. A simple guitar provides the backdrop for the star of the show Sam Cieri’s vocals. Crystal clear it reaches out and touches the audience. Delicate and yet raw in equal measure, there’s a vulnerability to his sound and it has the audience enthralled. The track builds and so too do the vocals, becoming more raw and gritty and already the crowd are lost in the music dancing and singing along.

Anna was released in 2025 and hits the spot too with the Manchester crowd. The vocals high and emotional backed by keys and a kinda ‘80’s vibe bass, it has a nostalgic pop feel to it.

The crowd go wild for the latest single Here to California which brings the rock influences flooding back in. It’s wild and free, and Sam’s vocals take on a grittier edge. It has that dark country edge, and equally dark lyrics with lines such as “Never look back at your shadow, Cause regrets are not your friends. They will hurt you, haunt you, try to stop you, to the bitter end….” The crowd are silent, listening in awe.

The country feel comes in full force with Next to Me with those riffs that just ooze out of the speakers at you. I loved it, the chorus sections are packed with just raw power and energy, not just from the vocals but the whole band.

2022’s Til We Both Say brings the pace down a bit for a while, and it’s followed by perhaps track of the night, as Sam stands alone with a guitar for the 2024 single Nothin’ I Do, a slow, delicate love song. His vocals are packed with emotion delivering every word with intensity and passion. Stunned silence meets every note – beautiful in every way.

The set ends with What Makes You Sad, before they return with a new track, not yet released - Gimme Sympathy. A track that stands alone and different from the rest of the set, a vocal performance with screams, heavier that everything before. I liked it, and it gave a nice sonic contradiction to the rest.

The night finally came to a close with a cover of the Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love, which was simply stunning. The bass tones were rich and dirty, and the guitars powerful and full of energy.

The Nicotine Dolls, came, they saw, and they conquered all before them tonight. The faithful went home happy, and the neutrals like me…… found a new band to add to the playlist !

Setlist

How Do You Love Me

Anna

Here To California – Latest single

Wild

Next To Me

Backseat

To The Wolves

Just Enough

‘Til We Both Say

Nothin’ I Do

Punch Drunk Lovin’