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Birmingham's returning sons season continued on Sunday with a visit to the new 02 Academy from Ocean Colour Scene. Although now well passed their britpop heyday, I was hopeful of a night of top nostalgia and some excellent tunes from what have been one of the city's finest exports. |
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Opening tonight's gig is South Africa's finest export, and probably the best dressed band around, The Parlotones. For those of you who have never heard of the them they are one of the biggest selling artists ever in their homeland, but thankfully they spend most of their time in England or on tour. As the band kick into the opening track it becomes evident that something's technically not quite right. 'Only Human' then 'Giant Mistake' are all radio friendly tracks. |
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If I was going to be in a band – I have decided it would definitely be Florence and the Machine They blew the Academy 2 away on Friday (April 22) with their mix of Indie, hippy Soul, fashionable flair and fun- lovin’ stage frolics. |
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Sunday nights are for winding down - chillaxing before work in the morning. I can guarantee that Eagles of Death Metal will simply not allow that to happen tonight. |
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The final date of the “Shred Yr Face 2” Tour sees The Bronx being supported by Fucked Up and Rolo Tomassi, upstairs at the “will-it-ever-be-rebranded” O2 Academy. It’s cold outside, so lets hope the bands warm me up... |
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The last time I saw Hue and Cry play live was in May of 1989, when they were riding on the back of the success of their first two albums and “Ordinary Angel” was flying high in the British charts. They played to a packed Birmingham Town Hall and the Kane brothers looked every inch stars.. |
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Polar Bear Club are on first, a fun hardcore-ish band in the 90's sense of the word whose songs largely run into one another. In defence, it's terribly early: 7pm starts are no one's friend. There is some weakness in the vocals but the guitars are strong and clever and there's a lot of energy thrown about on what is an otherwise spectacularly crappy day in the Midlands. They play a new track, Take Me To The Town, which intros like an eighties musical montage colliding with 90s rock. In the good way. |
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For those that don't know, Fat Freddy's Drop are massive in their home country of New Zealand where their single 'Wandering Eye' camped in the charts for 17 weeks. Not bad for a band specialising in dub, reggae and soul. They don't have quite the same profile over here but there were enough fans in Birmingham willing to shell out around £20 to see the band to half-fill the Academy... |
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Tonight was I pessimistic towards the events that would unravel before me. I’m not sure I like Black Kids and I find most support acts tedious. It’s the wrong attitude to take, I’m sure. But my recent experiences have held me to it. Tonight I wanted to enter the Academy open minded. I’m not really sure just how open minded I was, but by the end of the gig I would have a solid opinion of the band and become either a lover or a hater.... |
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This year, the Rockstar sponsored Taste of Chaos tour is the smallest it’s ever been; after being downgraded from the NIA to the Academy last year, it’s now in the Academy 2. Whether this is a reflection of this year’s line up or if people are just going to gigs less is unclear, however those who do turn up are more than ready to give it their all.... |
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One sign of a confident band is the music played between the support and their appearance on stage. The Courteeners are not the kind to regale the crowd with Peruvian nose flutes, dodgy 50’s blues or obscure techno, rather they hit them squarely between the eyes with the Manchester back catalogue including The Smiths, Doves, New Order, and Inspiral Carpets, with Oasis’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Star whipping the assembled into a frenzy. Follow that! The good news is that for the most part they can... |
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While some people moan about how early gigs are at the Academy on a Friday and Saturday because of the club nights that follow any live shows, personally I think it’s a great idea; there’s something strangely enjoyable about watching a gig and still getting home in time for the 10 o’clock news. And so, it was an early trek down Dale End for the sold-out show from nu metal survivors Disturbed... |
