On February 8th, Marisa and the moths showcased to the O2 Ritz their finest credentials – Raw, sincere, and brilliant

Beneath the faded glamour and bouncing floorboards, the early crowd gathered with that familiar support-slot curiosity By the time Marisa and the Moths left the stage, that curiosity had turned into conviction.

Tasked with opening for the ever-flamboyant Fozzy, the Reading-based alt-rockers delivered a set that felt less like a prelude and more like a declaration.

No filler. No easing in. Just a sharp intake of breath and straight into crunching riffs that ricocheted around the Ritz’s art deco balconies.

There’s something refreshingly unvarnished about Marisa Rodriguez’s stage presence. She doesn’t posture — she connects. One moment she’s drawing the room into a near-whisper with smoky restraint, the next she’s unleashing a vocal that tears clean through the mix without losing melody.

It’s that balance of vulnerability and velocity that defines the band’s live power. The guitars carried a satisfying weight: thick, textured chords giving way to cutting lead lines that shimmered under the lights.

The rhythm section, meanwhile, kept everything grounded and muscular, ensuring the set never drifted into indulgence.

Every track felt purposeful, tightly wound, and delivered with intent.

What stood out most was the band’s chemistry. Between songs, brief smiles and nods hinted at an unspoken understanding — the kind that only comes from miles on the road and genuine belief in what you’re creating.

There was no sense of “support act going through the motions.” Instead, they played like a band determined to convert every unfamiliar face in the room.

By the closing track, the reaction had shifted palpably. Applause grew louder, cheers more insistent. You could see phones raised not out of obligation, but discovery.

Manchester crowds aren’t always easy to win — but on this night, Marisa and the Moths didn’t just warm up the stage for Fozzy.

They expanded their own following in real time.

If this performance proved anything, it’s that they’re operating a level above the typical opening slot. Dark-edged yet anthemic, polished yet emotionally raw, they brought a sense of urgency that lingered long after the lights dimmed.

An opening act? Technically.
A band on the cusp of much bigger rooms? Absolutely.