Admiral Fallow + Olympic Swimmers + Cannon Street, HMV Institute, Birmingham 10/12/12

Cannon Street

Birmingham’s own Cannon Street were the first to open for Glaswegian favourites, Admiral Fallow. There were awe struck faces all round as their effortless, spine tingling, haunting harmonies echoed through the room, accompanied by a lone acoustic guitar. While their songs are exceptionally mature and somewhat dark, their personalities are refreshingly young and fun. It was hard to keep up as they energetically spoke about cats, pet earplugs and dragons.Cannon Street’s unique sound, remarkable talent and effortless ability to make a crowd laugh and smile no doubt proves that the success they deserve is inevitable. These two beautiful sisters are definitely one to watch.

Olympic Swimmers

Fellow Scottish rockers, Olympic Swimmers were the next on. Vocalist Susie told us about a traffic crisis that almost meant that Admiral Fallow wouldn’t have been gracing the stage! The news that Admiral Fallow had recently played a show in their hometown to a couple of thousand fans put some pressure on the crowd to given them the best welcome Birmingham could offer. With that in mind, there was foot tapping and subtle head-banging to the atmospheric indie rock of Olympic Swimmers. Susie’s folk-like vocals, with a certain feel of The Cranberries, over a classically indie sound complete with fast paced guitars makes for a great sounding band.

Admiral Fallow

After a frustrating nine hour drive down from Glasgow, Admiral Fallow successfully made it on to the stage where they were greeted with a very warm welcome. The band was humbled that anyone outside of Scotland would actually spend their Monday night at their gig – it was a Monday night well spent! There was a great atmosphere in the room as the audience enjoyed their relaxing, folksy tracks. Admiral Fallow aren’t like any ordinary band; their range of instruments, including a clarinet and a flute, along with beautiful harmonies between Louis Abbott and Sarah Hayes in their thick Scottish accents makes Admiral Fallow a unique and interesting band with a great live presence. From the slower tracks like ‘Tree Bursts’ from their latest album, with an Elbow-esque sound, to the faster tracks like ‘Squealing pigs,’ with an instrumental reminiscent of Mumford and Sons, the willing audience were completely engaged and enjoying every minute.

Admiral Fallow

In their inevitable encore, it was time for some crowd participation as they sang along to a favourite, ‘Isn’t This World Big Enough??’ The atmosphere of the whole gig was so warm; a perfect cure for a hideously cold Monday. Admiral Fallow’s humble characters and humorous interactions with the crowd left everyone with a gleaming smile. The talented indie folk five piece are welcome back to Birmingham anytime soon!

Photographs by Jonathan Morgan.

Published version here

Gigs, gigs, gigs

There is absolutely nothing I love more than going to concerts. Since the last update i've seen

• The Vaccines (see below)
  
  
• Boat to RowA lovely and remarkably talented band, but I couldn't help but feel that their music was more 'background music.' Brum Notes (one of the magazines I write for) hosted the gig so I felt like it would be wrong for me to miss out. Their music would be perfect if you're on a comfy armchair with a good classic novel and a glass of red wine, not standing in hot cramped room.
  

• Admiral Fallow
  
  This was a last minute thing because Counteract didn't have a reviewer. I knew their first support act, Cannon Street because I'd seen them at the Oxjam festival. They are truly unbelievably talented.
  
  
  
  
  Admiral Fallow were great too. Spontaneity is always a good thing!
  

• Jake Bugg
  I'll be getting my review of Jake published in Brum Notes, yay! 

• Peace + Swim deep + more (aka Btownstock)
  THE BEST GIG EVER
  I am so proud of Birmingham. Everyone went absolutely insane!

'Tis The Season...

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and filled your ears with great music. 

Here's a breathtaking cover of War is Over from the wonderful Jake Bugg

x x x 

The Vaccines + DIIV live in Birmingham

It’s been an immensely successful year for The Vaccines. The band didn’t succumb to the inevitable pressures surrounding the dreaded second album, and instead produced a second work of indie art. The rightfully titled ‘Coming of Age’ appropriately reflects the bands own growth in maturity musically. Birmingham welcomed them with opened arms when they played at the O2 academy nearing the end of their UK tour.

New Yorkers, DIIV were the last to support The Vaccines in an attempt to warm up the continuously growing crowd. They successfully eliminated any aggravating boredom that was taking over the fans as they anxiously awaited their teenage icons. DIIV’s 70s psychedelic and 80s new wave sounds infused with a generous helping of 90s grunge echoed throughout the academy, grabbing the attention of the audience.

Chaos ensued as soon as The Vaccines took to the stage. To say ‘the crowd went wild’ would be a gross understatement.  From the word go, the crowd were fist pumping to ‘No Hope’ and going downright crazy for ‘Wreckin’ Bar.’ The sing-alongs to the slower songs, ‘Wetsuit’ and ‘A Lack of Understanding’ wouldn’t have been out of place in a football stadium! As if the crowd weren’t sweating and bruised enough, after emphatic screams of ‘The Vaccines,’ they came back for an incredible encore where favourites ‘Bad Mood,’ ‘Wolf Pack’ and ‘Norgaard’ caused even more enjoyable havoc.

The Vaccines are such a timeless rock ‘n’ roll band; it’s borderline impossible not to let the infectious rhythms of their indie anthems take over your body. Like the rock and roll stars they are, their whole set was energetic from start to finish and they performed with effortless style. Boys, you may be no Frankie Avalon, but you are without doubt somebody’s hero.

Front man, Justin Young, interrupted the set to tell us how the last time they’d played in the main room at Birmingham’s O2 academy they were the first of four support bands. This just amplifies how much they’ve grown as a band in just two years. With an arena tour announced for spring next year, The Vaccines are only going to get bigger and better.

Published in Counteract Magazine