Flamboyant Bella + Canterbury @ Bar Academy, Birmingham – 3rd December 2008

Tonight was always going to be difficult to pull in the crowds for any unsigned acts, with 3 major acts playing this evening in venues around Birmingham. This was the case when I arrived to a half filled Bar Academy to watch tonight’s bands.

First up were 5 piece Canterbury, having recently supported Lights Action these guy’s were well prepared. Opening with Peace And Quiet followed by Eleven Twelve which got the small audience singing along to due to fact that the track is posted on the band’s MySpace page. The band gave a very energetic performance before closing the set with the anthemic track Set You Right. This was available to download or buy on vinyl from some live shows. The set was 30 minutes of energetic rock, with soaring keyboards lines. A worthy opening act.

45 minutes later the crowd of teenagers moves forward, this is my cue to get into position as Flamboyant Bella take to the stage with the first track Touch. This got the crowd singing, although at first you could hardly hear Flo Kirton’s vocals but this was soon rectified by the sound engineer. “Hey Birmingham” Flo said to the crowd “It’s great to be back”. Everyone in this audience thought so especially when half way through the set Sexy Beast was played. James McBreen and Flo’s vocals compliment each other very well and I was pleasantly surprised as I thought this would be difficult to replicate at a live performance.

The crowd happily sang along to all the songs and no-one cared that the venue wasn’t full. Songs like Crazy Cool and the beautiful Still kept them singing long. As with support band before them, Flamboyant Bella saved the best until last, as they belted out the wonderfully entitled Absolutely Wankered which got the crowd dancing along. Even Flo kicked off her shoes and danced along with them.

No encore for the crowd but all band members signed frisbees and posed for photographs afterwards so every one went home happy with the words of Absolutely Wankered ringing in their ears. No doubt some of them sang along whilst in their parents cars on the journey home.

Maybe the next time these two bands play Birmingham they will not have to compete with anyone else playing, because I’m pretty sure that they will get a much larger crowds on their return to the city.

Set List:
Touch
So Obscene
Ridiculous
My Skies
Come True
Sexy Beast
Unstable
Love Has Got Me Stoned
Crazy Cool
Second Minute Hour
Still
Absolutely Wankered

Review & Photos – Ian Dunn

About Author