Review: Asylums, Blackwaters, MeMeDetroit, Rainbow Venues, Birmingham
The weather may be taking a turn for the colder, but there was a lot of heat and energy pumping out of the basement of the Rainbow Venues in Birmingham as Southend pop punkers Asylums brought their appropriately named band for a pre-Halloween shindig.
Feeding off the energy created by their support acts, the southerners brought a great party vibe to this Friday night to warm even the coolest of cockles and show us a good time.
Local act MeMeDetroit opened up and brought a deliciously throwback 90s grunge vibe that would make even the sharpest of hairs stand up on the backs of necks as they slammed our eardrums with deep bass and shrill guitar.
A real local gem, look out for any future gigs in upcoming listings as this three-piece really carried some undertones of anger amid their flowing riffs and stomping percussion.
Next up was Guildford band Blackwaters who, unlike the headline act, weren't any good. This hipster scream vibe wasn't much cop when The Libertines did it. So don't try and carry it on now!
But never mind. When they slinked off it opened up our stage for the headline act. They didn't disappoint.
Playing largely through their debut LP in order, they delivered us hit after hit whether it be the darkly aggressive yet pleasantly futuristic tones of Monosyllabic Saliva or hitting us with something slightly poppier like Joy In A Small Wage.
The guys seemed like a good laugh, human enough to appeal to the assembled crowd while holding enough gravitas to command our respect.
I've Seen Your Face In A Music Magazine and Wet Dream Fanzine brought the dancemoves out among the small second-city crowd, while arguably their best song – Necessary Appliances – sounded eruptively monstrous live.
They seemed to enjoy themselves too, which helped us to dance around, as pleasantries were swapped with glee between headliners and fans.
This was a top gig for a coolish Friday night and one which all who attended will hold fond memories of.
If we could erase Blackwaters we would, but the rest of the evening was an entertaining explosion of riffs and beats that left us craving more as we filtered out into the night.
By Leigh Sanders
