The Big Birmingham Live Review of 2015
As the year comes to an end, we take a look back on what was really good in 2015, and lay out some predictions for 2016. Here are the end of year reviews for some of the Birmingham Live team in no particular order Some of us wrote lots, some of not so much but this year we tried to increase the diversity of musical styles and tastes that we represented, give an shot in the arm to local bands, and visited venues that were anything from major festivals to back rooms with one man and a dog. If you look at the favourite albums of the year then it’s clear that the myth about Midlanders being metal-heads has been put to rest; well for some of us anyway.
All contributors to this site are genuine, dedicated music lovers and it is obvious from what we have received via the comments and social media or just through meeting people, that you are too! So for 2016 please keep the feedback coming, including for this review. We’d love to know what you think!
Stephanie Colledge (Editor/Photographer)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
The Cribs in the Oobleck as it was the most manic night and The Cribs intensity in that smaller space was incredible – one of those would I dare try to shoot it gigs. So glad I did although I could do with growing a least a foot taller.
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
Victories at Sea (supporting The Pains of Being Pure at Heart)
Favourite Birmingham venue
02 Institute – we have a host of good venues.
Top 3 albums of 2015
Richard Hawley – Hollow Meadows
The Cribs – For All My Sisters
Tame Impala – Currents
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
Well the promise of Prince at the Symphony Hall had my credit card fainting in anticipation – the Pixies would be thrill if they were here and because I’d love to shoot them. Kakkmaddafakka.
2016 is going be a huge year for…
The Twilight Sad – supporting The Cure tour all over the States and Europe. They are an incredible band that deserves immense success (and lovely guys too).
Chris Bowley (Photographer/Reviewer)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
Chvrches, this was a cracking show loved it all 🙂 proper fan no but don’t tell anyone
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
Out of the ones I’ve seen I would have to say Turnstile supporting The Story So Far
Favourite Birmingham venue
Academy is by far my favourite – well laid out, great atmosphere, views, staff, stage, lights
Top 3 albums of 2015
Iron Maiden – Book of souls
Chvrches – Every Open Eye
Five Finger Death Punch – Got Your Six
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
Rammstein or Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden probably in this order, Rammstein as the live YouTube videos look an art to capture, Sabbath, they won’t be around for much longer and I’d love to see them before they go into the shadows, and maiden my new found love
2016 is going to be a huge year for…
TBC…….
Glenn Raybone (Reviewer)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
Richard Hawley, he was simply magical, not a foot or note wrong and a generally nice guy.
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
Korn, supporting (and blowing away) Slipknot
Favourite Birmingham venue
The Institute (easy to get to, easy to park, parking is cheap, a good view wherever you are standing, in fact the only improvement would be to get a proper real ale on tap)
Top 3 albums of 2015
John Grant — Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
Richard Hawley — Hollow Meadows
Clutch — Psychic Warfare
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
Melody Gardot, she rarely tours as it is, and when she does it’s normally one night in London, in fact Melody if you’re reading this it’s been nearly SIX years since you graced Birmingham, surely you can slot the Symphony Hall in during March 2016??
2016 is going to be a huge year for…
No doubt Adele, whom I have no interest whatsoever, but each to their own
Shaz Rafferty (Photographer)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
Best gig of the year which we covered was Slam Dunk, huge range of acts in a small area, great to visit many bands!
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
Suburban Legends supporting Reel big Fish
Favourite Birmingham venue
The Institute, better atmosphere than the others and just the right size.
Top 3 albums of 2015
Patent Pending – Riots, Hearts, Rebellion
Marianas Trench – Something Old/Something New
Mayday Parade – Black Lines
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
Marianas Trench!!!
2016 is going be a huge year for…
Lacey
Dave Musson (Photographer/Social Media Guru)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
Beartooth + ’68 at the Academy 2, 28 November — an absolutely cracking night
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
Every Time I Die supporting Architects, 12 March. ETID never let you down!
Favourite Birmingham venue
The Institute
Top 3 albums of 2015
Looming — Nailbiter
Defeater — Abandoned
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes – Blossom
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
Black Sabbath, at Villa Park…no better place to end it I reckon!
2016 is going to be a huge year for…
Glassjaw, based on that amazing new single
Alan Neilson (Reviewer)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
Hippo Campus supporting Modest Mouse
Favourite Birmingham venue
Birmingham Institute
Top 3 albums of 2015
Amor Supremo- Carla Morrison
Found You Here — Boat To Row
Pale Honey – Pale Honey
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
Sigur Ros
2016 is going be a huge year for…
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Ian Gelling (Editor/Reviewer)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
Lots of contenders but it had to be Ride playing Nowhere at the Institute. I never thought it would happen.
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
Moon King supporting Alvvays.
Favourite Birmingham venue
The Institute
Top 3 albums of 2015
Dutch Uncles – Oh Shudder!
Low – Ones and Sixes
Stalking Horse – Kowtow
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
The absolutely, psychedelically, ace King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
2016 is going be a huge year for…
Warmongers….. Oh you mean a band? OK – De Rosa – back at long last with a new record after a wait of My Bloody Valentine proportions!
James Stokes (Reviewer)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
Killing Joke, Institute, Oct 31st – seeing your favourite band is one thing, seeing them again is another, seeing them play depressingly rare tracks live is yet another (the driving Absent Friends, not played for nearly 20 years), being second from the barrier is another (another), a quick hello to dangerously talented sticksman ‘Big’ Paul Ferguson is another, another, another….
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
It has to go to Dan Patlansky, supporting the mighty Joe Satriani at the Symphony Hall. His gravel-throated blues-rock may need a little more distinctiveness and identity to set him apart from the crowd, but he very clearly has the chops and ability to gradually carve his own identity out with style. One to watch.
Favourite Birmingham venue
Symphony Hall is Bimringham’s jewel in the crown. Praised by Tony Whatsit as the world’s best concert venue, it’s sumptuous and beautiful without being snobbish or egalitarian, offering crystal-clear sound, as witnessed at a Richard Marx gig in 2011 when he unplugged his electro-acoustic and sat on the edge of the stage – later walking up and down the floor aisles – playing purely acoustically and still being entirely audible, evidencing crystal-clear acoustics.
Top 3 albums of 2015
Steven Wilson – Hand.Cannot.Erase.
Bumblefoot – Little Brother is Watching
Muse – Drones
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
Having been fortunate to have seen most of my favourite artists, the impatient glaring spotlight turns on those who still can’t find Birmingham on a map. This dubious (dis)honour falls on enigmatic art-metallers Tool and doubly enigmatic and wildly prolific guitar virtuoso Buckethead. Having only visited the UK when part of Guns N’ Roses (seriously) in the early 2000s, my longing to see the masked magician is such that I would gladly fork out to see him lie on a settee for two hours lit by a lava lamp.
As for Tool, their previous UK trek – a mere eight years ago – bypasses our fair city altogether. With a new album finally appearing to be round the corner (almost a decade since 2006’s 10,000 Days) and sparse US dates announced, I am crossing every available body part for a Birmingham arena date.
2016 will be huge for…
Tool, if they get that damn new album released
Guns N’ Roses, if the heavily rumoured reunion A) happens, and B) isn’t an absolute trainwreck
Those trendy new bands that never have staying power *goes into ponderous monologue about ‘older bands’ having more staying power because they were built up in pre-streaming eras, etc etc etc etc etc*
Steve Kilmister (Photographer)
Best gig you covered for Birmingham Live
Marmozets @ The Institute Library
Best support act you saw this year (and who they were supporting)
Malevolence supporting Obey The Brave – just for the sheer brutality and attitude.
Favourite Birmingham venue
The Institute
Top 3 albums of 2015
Thy Art Is Murder — Holy War
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes — Blossom
Marilyn Manson — The Pale Emperor
The band I’d most like to see play in Birmingham in 2016 is…
Ho99o9 — I know they’re supporting Slaves but I can’t get there!
2016 is going be a huge year for…
Not sure about huge, but can certainly see Milk Teeth doing well for themselves.
Compiler: Dave Musson
Mic photo: Stephanie Colledge