90s heartthrob Chesney Hawkes makes his triumphant return to Manchester. Armed with a new collection of songs as well as a smorgasbord of classics. Chesney set out with a goal to keep the 90s alive with the help of a legion of die hard fans who wanted to recapture their youth in a way that only music can.

Support came from Laura Aston, a Birmingham based country act who largely stuck to covers like Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler, Four Non Blondes’ What’s Up and Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots are Made for Walkin. It’s a solid setlist of crowd pleasers but doesn’t really say a great deal about Laura outside of her having decent taste in music and a good voice. Perhaps it’s worth checking out her solo headline dates later in the year. A decent set, just not particularly unique but then again, sometimes a safe bet is worth taking.

Finally was Chesney Hawkes, a man that brought rapturous applause from the audience as he and his flamboyantly dressed band made their way to the stage. Band on the Wall has a doorway that you can see through on the way to the bathroom so you could see into the VIP meet and greet which looked almost as full as the show itself. Chesney obviously garners a lot of respect from the diehards in the audience and it’s easy to see why; he has a wholesome respect for his audience and the playful flirty banter goes a long way.

Tracks like Live Forever and Not a Boy, I’m a Man have a bit of Bryan Adams vibe to them as they never quite turn into rock ragers but have that quiet and comfortable safe energy without being sit down headbobbers. There’s just enough pulse for it all to be fun to dance to without making your knees hurt and Chesney’s vocal range is always in the right register to sing along to.

The show is mostly a bubbly experience but there are moments where the music gets darker and more serious with tracks like 13 and Loud, the latter of which deals with the tragic loss of Chesney’s friend. It’s a somber moment in theory but in execution, it’s a grand life affirming moment that shows off the power of music and Chesney’s ability to write genuinely from the heart.

Chesney also broke out a solid collection of covers including Nik Kershaw’s Wouldn’t It Be Good, The Killer’s Human and a track Chesney and his drummer/brother, Jodie Hawkes, have a great deal of history with: Silence is Golden by The Tremeloes. Their father, Len ‘Chip’ Hawkes, was the lead singer of The Tremeloes so they’ve taken up the mantle of keeping the legacy of the band with their emotional cover.

The set of originals ended with the inclusion of Chesney’s biggest hit, One and Only. Despite being in a fairly small venue, this song made the room feel massive with its arena rock chorus and Bruce Springsteen energy. The list of 90s British mainstream rock tracks is long but few of them feel anywhere near as massive as this one.

This may not be a show for younger people but there’s still a great deal for everyone who only knows the 21st century. There’s fun banter, powerful pop songs that feel timeless and even a few classic songs thrown in for good measure. If you’re looking for a piece of the 90s condensed into a three hour show then be sure to check out Chesney Hawkes.

And for those saying all this is old and not cool, this is the exact same trajectory of all of your pop stars and your relationship with music. Enjoy your knees while you still can.