Enter Shikari @ KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton, 16th March 2023
A blockbusting night at KKs Steel Mill with the amazing Enter Shikari headlining proceedings. They were playing the middle set of dates in their A Kiss For The Whole World Tour dates in the UK. This consisted of playing the same 5 venues in consecutive months and tonight was the second Sold Out Wolverhampton Date.
Cody Frost
First up was the dynamic Cody Frost who started proceedings at a packed KKs in the right way. She kicked off with Verbal Warnings then a brand new song Wot?. Her bright red hair and her exuberant performance was getting the crowd nicely warmed up, she was dancing and jumping around the stage giving it everything. Next were DWYSSWM (Don’t Worry Your Secret’s Safe With Me), No Admission and Berlin. They were really enjoying the massive stage that KKs affords all bands, as were the crowd. This short and sweet set ended with Berlin followed by Redundant, a great way to start the evening.
As Everything Unfolds
Next up were As Everything Unfolds who took up the baton, giving the crowd even more reason to get moving. They started with Ultraviolet before moving seamlessly into Hiding From Myself. Vocalist Charlie Rolfe has a brilliant range, as she sang and growled her way through the set. Then into Flip Side followed by new song Slow Down all upbeat songs and the temperature was rising at a sold out KKs Steel Mill.
Rolfe was ably assisted by Adam Kerr – lead guitar, George Hunt – bass, Jon Cassidy – synths/programming, Jamie Gowers – drums who were all thoroughly enjoying themselves. Their brand of rock continued with Blossom, Felt Like Home then finishing the set with On The Inside. We will certainly be hearing from these guys very soon, a brilliant set.
Enter Shikari
With a reputation, well deserved, for stunning live performances, it was headliner time. The crowd were in a state of excitement in readiness for the guys to come on, the lights went down, they started with It Hurts and the place exploded. Frontman Rou Reynolds was in imperious form, dancing and jigging his way round the stage. Juggernauts, { The Dreamer’s Hotel } and Hectic are next, their unique brand of rock fused with dance and a bit of Drum & Bass sees the crowd dancing and jumping uncontrollably. The band start The Void Stares Back and Reynolds moves through the crowd to an impromptu mini stage at the back of the room to sing with a sea of arms waving in front of him.
The rest of the band, Chris Batten – bass, vocals, keyboards, Rob Rolfe – drums and Rory Clewlow – guitar are a brilliant foil for Reynolds. Satellites which blends into The Pressure’s On and straight into Bloodshot after which Rou askes “shall we go all old skool?” they blast into Labyrinth, the crowd knows every word of every song throughout the night and sing their hearts out, even with new songs like (pls) Set Me On Fire. Bull is next, they are joined by opening act Cody Frost to accompany Reynolds with the vocals and it works brilliantly. The set finishes with Sorry, You’re Not a Winner and they leave to a deafening roar.
Reynolds returns by saying “thank you for joining us tonight it’s been absolutely lovely” then does a wonderful acoustic version of Stop The Clocks before speaking as a poem, System with the crowd speaking along. As the words end the band come on and they crank it up and play Meltdown with the crowd really going for it, before finishing with Live Outside.
What a night, what a band, they never disappoint!
Review and photographs: Andy Shaw
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