Review: I Am Kloot @ Hard Rock Cafe, Manchester

It’s certainly not for the lack of songs, but this invite-only gig to celebrate the 10th birthday of Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe might give another indication why.

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you — Kloot frontman John Bramwell savaged it.

It was clear from the start that the singer, who was performing solo, was not happy about what he thought to be a corporate gig.

They had got the words wrong to All You Need Is Love in the men’s toilets, he said.

The idea of a “rock cafe” was ridiculous, the guitars in cases on the walls were sacrilege.

Perhaps fair comment from a defiantly unfashionable man kicking against the commercialisation of Manchester’s music scene.

But when his ire was directed at the audience it was hard not to feel uncomfortable.

Yes, there were a handful of media people enjoying free drinks and canapes, and it did feel a little off.

Some of the outfits seemed a little overly glam for such a gritty, if romantic, band.

But the majority there were competition winners who were there because they genuinely love the band.

They certainly didn’t deserve the spite they received.

Which was a shame, because for the handful of songs he deigned to perform, Bramwell’s voice was as raw and affecting as could be expected.

The latest album certainly deserves its Mercury nomination, as the songs from it proved, with Sky At Night a highlight — perhaps because Bramwell took the time to talk about the song, rather than ranting about the surroundings.

After five songs, though, Bramwell stomped off stage, and the audience were left feeling more than a little bemused, and in my case a bit sad.

They play Manchester Cathedral in December. Hopefully that venue will be more acceptable to the talented, but seemingly temperamental, frontman.

• Hard Rock 10th Birthday celebrations continue throughout September. Bjorn Again play the cafe on September 23. For more information, visit hardrock.com.