Tonight
is a sell-out, and so it’s bound to be busy,
but added to that is the fact downstairs there's
another sell-out show, so the academy is crazy.
But the kids get down early and the room is almost
full by the time the first act takes to the stage.
Neck Deep, are a band from Wrexham and are taking
the pop punk world by storm, they have a new album
out and are on a whirlwind ride to huge success.
So it’s great that fans can check them out
here before they start to headline this venue
themselves. This no nonsense band, take to the
stage in silence, no crowd woops just a patient
room getting ready to rock, and unfortunately
when Neck Deep kick in they are disappointing
thanks to the truly awful sound that just blasts
bass into the room, making the vocals muffled
and the guitars seem like background noise, the
only redeeming factor is the high hats and fast
pace of the drums, that get over this is a punk
band, or else you'd have never known what type
of music you were listening to. This is such as
shame, as I was so looking forward to seeing this
awesome band with an amazing album! But this is
just tonight and the Academy 2, so I'm sure this
is just the venues poor sound and not the bands,
and this is proven to be the case when they play
their last song, which takes a more folky turn,
with clearer guitars and vocals, but with allot
more bass than is needed.
Luckily the band are highly energetic throughout
the majority of their set and have a great stage
presence with singer Ben Barlow jumping, into
the crowd and getting the room jumping! They even
get chants for one more song after they finish
their short set which means the room is hot, sweaty
and pumped up for more.
Save Your Breath are up next and they take to
this humid and damp stage and burst right into
fast punk rock songs that sound better than before,
but are still poor, but this time it’s not
enough to distract from the great music and is
minor in comparison.
They're fun and frantic and keep the momentum
up, this five piece from Newport can barely move
on the front of the stage but bassist Ben 33 does
his best to get about and do his Rob Trujillo
impressions, gurning and walking like a gorilla.
The crowd is loving every second and jumps around
like demented beasts, if they keep this up they’ll
be tired out by the time We Are The In Crowd hit
the stage! They play a short set with great songs
like Harrow Road and Touchpaper with little talking
in between songs. They leave the stage happy in
the knowledge that they’ve entertain this
crowd to a high level.
We
Are The In Crowd take to the stage late, as a
few fans have to be pulled out because of exhaustion.
The room is boiling, it’s like a sauna/muddy
festival as the floor makes people slip and slide
and the walls are sweating. The security get some
extra footing by bringing in a rubber mat to stand
on whilst the stage is thoroughly dried so the
band don't have an accident. But they come out
eventually to huge screams and blast straight
into The Best Thing (That Never Happened) from
their soon to be released second album Weird Kids,
which instantly turns into a sing along. The sound
is better than before, but not by a huge amount
but at least you can hear each individual instrument
and Tay Jardines beautiful vocals
with its accompanying harmonies from guitarist
Jordon Eckes. They work the crowd into a frenzy,
with they're catchy pop rock anthems, they continue
they're set with Manners, The Worst Thing About
Me, Kiss Me Again, Never Be What You Want and
Lights Out. They’re latest album already
seems to be part of the fans consciousness as
it goes down massively. They really know how to
put on a show with every member jumping around
the stage like a wild lion leaping after a gazelle.
They’re a fun band and have a lead singer
that's raising the bar for front woman and men
with her unique stylish ways that shows she's
a pro at working a room, and can give the best
in the business a run for their money. They don't
talk to the crowd to much but they do thanks them
for, coming and tell them, how awesome
they are. They wrap up their set with For The
Win, Long Live The Kids, Exits and Etrances which
include a few slow numbers to calm the evening
including the moving sing Windows In Heaven about
Tay’s father who sadly passed away, which
gets a tear into many a fans eye as they sing
they're hearts out. The wrap up with Attention
before they come back for an encore with their
highest hits to date including Both Sides Of The
Story and the anthemic Rumor Mill of their debut
album, Best Intentions. The room explodes in a
heat wave and a final blast of energy for the
night before they leave the stage.
Tonight
has been great but could have been so much better
if it wasn't for the sound problems. The up and
coming Neck Deep showed how much they have to
give before Save Your Breath got everyone ready
to rock and We Are The In Crowd took the crowd
on a journey of highs and lows in a beautiful
serenade of pop rock.
Neck Deep 2.5/5
Save Your Breath 3/5
We Are The In Crowd 3.5/5
Review By James Daly
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