Tonight
is a quite Friday night in Birmingham, instead
of the normal raucous atmosphere that takes the
city over at a weekend, it’s quite subdued.
Maybe that’s because it’s still a
week till payday, maybe it’s because people
have still, almost two months after the start
of the new year, have yet to get back into the
normal swing of things, there are many reasons
why it could be quiet on the streets off Birmingham,
but one thing I know for sure, inside the Birmingham
Institute it will be chaos, as Pure Love and their
legendary front man are getting ready to take
to the stage, but first we have support from Turbogeist.
Turbogeist
are already on the stage as I enter the small
but busy venue. The room is already starting to
sweat and the crowd are already wrapped up the
bands punky thrash sound. Singer Jimmy is taking
a break from playing guitar with an arm in a sling,
but it allows him to be more active and put more
energy into the performance whilst someone else
takes over the thrashing guitars. The band play
a short set of songs which go down great, the
crowd is jumping and getting crazy and the band
are sounding great as the come across the speakers.
This band are one to check out in the future as
they’ve got the room ready to participate
in the chaos that is Pure Love.
Pure
Love take to the stage rather late, and before
they start a few members of the band come out
to sound check, this is unusual as the band normally
does this earlier in the day, but as it turns
out there tour bus broke down on the way to the
venue, and they’ve been sat on the motorway
most of the day waiting for repairs, they only
got to the venue an hour ago, so that’s
why things are a bit delayed. But this late and
quick sound check doesn’t detract from the
sound, as when they come on stage playing the
first track from their debut album Anthems, She(Makes
The Devil Run Through Me, the sound is amazing.
It’s a really raw sound that only amplifies
the different styles that run through their album,
with a mixture of indie/rock/punk/pop all rolled
out throughout. The crowd
already get into the mood with big inflatables
floating around the crowd by the end of second
track The Hits, as guitarist Jim Carroll jumps
over the small barrier and into the crowd playing
his guitar on top off a inflatable fire engine
and the sea of people. The stage is filled with
inflatables by the end of the song whilst which
Frank Carter explains how the band spent their
day, before blasting into their last single Beach
Of Diamonds.
The
crowd are singing all the words and love every
second of the gig, and when Frank gets to the
words “Dive In Dive In” he does just
that and jumps over the barrier on the same inflatable
fire truck and surfs on the crowd, not only does
he crowd surf but he manages to get the crowd
to help him do a handstand on top of them, making
for a unique sight as a heavily tattooed man floats
with his feet in the air across a room off people,
whilst still singing along. When the song comes
to an end, Frank tells the crowd “I don’t
understand, why do people always feel the need
to pat me on the back when I come into the crowd”
before saying “But where all here for some
fun, so do enjoy, we like pits and moshing, but
we don’t want any of this hard-core hero
shite, look after each other as it’s all
about Pure Love!” Frank stays in the crowd
as the band starts Anthem, and by the end of the
song he’s made his way to the bar at the
back of the room and is singing on top of it,
whilst having a few drinks. He asks a member of
the crowd to help him out, and he jumps on his
shoulders and starts making his way to the back
to the stage whilst singing Bury My Bones.
Pure
Love continue their set by playing Burning Love,
a cover of Teenage Kicks, Handsome Devils Club,
Scared To Death before bringing the drum kit into
the crowd for final song The Riot Song, in which
their drummer plays surrounded by the crowd whilst
Frank and Jim circle the room. The crowd leave
the room happy and pumped up.
It’s clear to say that every Pure Love gig
is different, and every gig is exciting, they
are one of the best live bands in the country
and will always impress, and to go along with
great antics and to make a great gig, is great
songs and Pure Love have a tonne of them. If you
see a live band this year, make sure it’s
Pure Love!
Turbogeist 3/5
Pure Love 5/5
Review By James Daly
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