Killswitch Engage + Trivium + Miss May I + Battlecross @ Birmingham Academy – 6th February 2014
For a four band concert, sold out, the amount of people that arrived early to support and watch the first band Battlecross was surprising. The fast, erratic pace from their set really got the crowd going from the start. Usually at gigs the first band have a hard time waking up the crowd and getting them ready for the headliners. However, tonight Battlecross really got the audience going straight away, especially with lead singer, Kyle Gunther, encouraging the crowd, who were very supportive in return. Even more so when the third song hit, people began to loosen up even more and began to headbang and cheer on the band, including those sitting on balcony.
After Battlecross had finished and the next stage set was being set up, the Academy began to fill up even more for Miss May I. This may have been because of how many people were queuing to enter the Academy, which is unfortunate as they had missed the first band.
Miss May I exploded with a great opening and, with the already warmed-up crowd, the place just came alive again. Levi Benton, the lead singer, encouraged mosh pits and for the crowd to keep moving, which then saw a few crowd surfers enjoying themselves, however security did an amazing job dealing with any fans that wanted out of the crowd or needing any assistance. Miss May I played an amazing set from start to finish, although the last song ‘Hey Mister’ really set the crowd’s energy on full power which then ended their set perfectly.
With Trivium coming up, the Academy had now become packed, fans wearing their merch and chanting. I approached a few various groups and asked who they were here to see. Luckily I had great response from the very friendly fans who mostly informed me Trivium were the main attraction for them tonight. And even commented how great and faultless Birmingham is to come to see live music because of the venues and the crowd’s energy.
When the stage was being set for Trivium, fans began to chant around the room. With everything set along, a roar of the crowd and most of the balcony now standing, Trivium hit the stage.
Straight into their opening song, the crowd has hit a new level, smiling to fans and encouraging them from the stage to sing along. However during the first song Matt Heafy, lead singer, stops the band due to two people at the front of the crowd who had fainted. He asks the fans to be patient as someone is not well and this causes the crowd to cheer them even harder at his gentlemanly gesture. He talks to security to make sure the fans are okay and ask if they could contact him after to make sure they are okay. Again causing the fans to go wild with their gesture causing the chanting of ‘Trivium’ to begin once again.
After the fans are taken care of, everything goes back to normal and they resume where they left off. The next song, Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation, really got the crowd singing even more.
Although everything was going smoothly, another incident happened and Matt stopped the band and crowd so security could get to the fan and help out, followed by another wave of support from the fans.
Trivium had played an amazing set along with getting an outstanding reaaction from the crowd. If you were unsure about Trivium at the beginning you would have ended up ae diehard fan by the end of their performance.
The crowd waited eagerly for the headliners Killswitch Engage to hit the stage and suddenly, after a very quick changeover, ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ began to play as the lights went down.
Killswitch came on with full energy ready to give the crowd what they wanted. Their opening song, ‘Bid Farewell’, delighted the crowd straight away and really got everyone singing. Jesse Leach smiled and look very appreciative towards the crowd a number of times during their set meanwhile Adam Dutkiewicz, the very energetic wild guitarist, kept as much energy as the crowd was showing by running around stage and dancing about.
Killswitch Engage really had a great choice of songs for tonight’s performance, with their ending song being ‘My Curse’
How the crowd’s attention was caught straight from the beginning had to be one of the best gigs I have been to so far. No faults or problems with sound or setting up, tonight’s gig, with the performance from the roadies to the band themselves, was easy, fast and outstanding. And the crowd definitely lived up to people’s expectations with its energy tonight.
Review & photos – Alex Mundy