Sometimes in life, you just have to pinch yourself. Think when you’ve had a surreal dream and you’re not sure what reality is anymore. That was Saturday night in Birmingham. If The Snuts alone weren’t enough already, you also had some truly incredible local support acts. In the order, they played: Cage Park, Overpass, Candid & The Clause. Not sure about anyone else but I would pay the ticket price (was about £15) for just the supports. So when you’re adding in one of the most critically acclaimed bands in Britain, you are getting a value for money that is only normally seen down the middle aisle of Lidl. [Main image: Credit: @jjjacobcampbell Twitter.]
Full disclosure, didn’t get in early enough to catch Cage Park, but the doors opened at 17:00 and it just wasn’t humanly possible to make it work, unfortunately. However, in other news, Cage Park are playing in Birmingham in under a month, so if it can be done, that’s another evening sorted! They’re featuring at the Hare & Hounds alongside Twelve Twelve and they’re both supporting False Heads.
Overpass
We managed to get in the venue just as Overpass were starting up, some would say timed to perfection, others would say if your timing was that perfect then you wouldn’t have missed the first band, but there we go. As was the case with all the acts on the lineup, each band had a real presence on stage and it was class to see.
One Night Lover and Stop The Clock were particular standouts, nonetheless, you should keep your eyes peeled for some new music that they’ve got releasing very soon. They’re also on tour (image above), if there’s a venue close to you, get down get involved, it will be a top night. Worcester for us on this tour, me thinks. First date of the proper tour kicking off? Should be a belter.
Candid
Candid were the only one on the support lineup that weren’t ‘proper local’ – what do I mean by that? Well, Cage Park, Overpass, and The Clause are all from in and around Birmingham, Candid are a little bit further afield in Coventry. For those who aren’t too spot on with English geography, it’s not much further, an extra 20 miles or so, so not too bad at all.
While the crowd were a little bit more skeptical at first when it came to Candid due to them not being a Birmingham band, that soon changed once they got going. On more than one occasion people were asking what they were called in between songs, so they’ve definitely came away with a few new fans which is what it is all about.
Wasted Time is a tune that has done wonderfully well for Candid on the streaming platforms. To see it live, well. Being lost for words isn’t very good when you’re trying to review something but that’s very much the case. It was that good.
We spoke of value at the start of this article and their next gig is no different. They’re on with Idle Noise, Parade, and Past Lives and the HMV Empire in Coventry. A ticket will cost you six British pounds or a pint in objective terms (if today’s news is to be believed), you’re a fool if you don’t pay it. You really are.
The Clause
The Clause lads in full flow. Credit: @DavePar36443535 on Twitter.
Where to start? The Clause are the leading lights of the Birmingham scene at present and they will keep on getting bigger and better. They’re, quite literally, unstoppable. The tunes they played took the roof off and, without doubt, they will be headlining that big room at the o2 Institute very soon. The Clause deserve it, arguably more than anyone else.
Whether it’s Sixteen or their latest single, Cruella, or anything in between, they never fail to get the crowd bouncing. Many people that were at the gig were there for The Snuts and you can totally understand that. Nonetheless, the room was packed to the rafters when The Clause took to the stage. Some were there for The Clause, some were in just to get a spot before The Snuts came on. By the end of The Clause’s set, everyone was there for The Clause.
Next up for them is a HUGE support slot alongside The K’s where they’re both playing before DMA’s Birmingham leg of the tour. I have a suspicion it won’t be the last time we see The Clause at the o2 Academy this year…
The Snuts
Credit: @jjjacobcampbell Twitter.
The main act of the evening. After watching The Lathums not too long prior to seeing these, I was intrigued to see how the two matched up with one another. The Snuts topped anything I’ve seen since lockdown ended, that’s how good they were. That’s no disrespect to anyone else, they’ve just got something else about them. The crowd played a massive part as well. As soon as Glasgow started I was carried by the music into the mosh pit and remained there until the end. Trainers well and truly ruined.
Pure energy, pure power, and pure control of everybody in the room. These were The Snuts and you were going to have a good time. Everybody in the venue was there for the most important thing of all and that was the music. It is one hell of a drug, is live music, and long may it continue forever and a day.
The Snuts showcased their ability to switch it up with Somebody Loves You being played in a way it can only be enjoyed to the unadulterated carnage of Glasgow which got the set off to a sensational start. From that point onwards, it was every man and woman for themselves. All good-natured, of course.
Until the next time.
Awayday Radio have a number of gigs coming up, details below:
5th of November: The Station, Cannock. Marquis Drive supported by Maze, Alex Ohm, and Jack Cattell.
20th of November: KU Bar, Stockton. Social Room supported by Gaz Price, Docksuns, and The Wainstones.
17th of December: HMV Empire, Coventry. The Primitives supported by The Institutes, The Session, and Danny Ansell.
