Express & Star

You Me At Six, O2 Academy, Birmingham - review with pictures

Following the release of their fifth album Night People earlier this year, last night saw You Me at Six take to the stage at the O2 Academy Birmingham.

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Pictures by: Chris Bowley

Opening the show were Exeter based rock band Black Foxxes and Australia’s Tonight Alive to a packed room, before You Me at Six took to the stage.

Formed in 2004, You Me at Six’s sound has seen them evolve from pop punk teenagers to maturing alt rockers in more recent years. Currently touring in support of their fifth record ‘Night People’ produced by Jacquire King (James Bay, Kings Of Leon), the band opened with the title track backed by a complex light show to rapturous applause from the adoring audience. The pace was then stepped up with a trio of fast paced hits Underdog, Loverboy and Stay With Me. It’s when the band were performing their more upbeat material that the crowd really got behind them, losing some of the audience’s attention on the slower tracks from their more recent record. The reception to old track ‘Save It For The Bedroom’ highlighted the audience’s love for the bands earlier material, showing the appetite for a 10th anniversary tour of debut record ‘Take Off Your Colours’ as hinted at by lead vocalist Josh Francheschi.

It’s a testament to You Me At Six that they’ve managed to survive and outgrow the UK rock scene that often is difficult to find longevity within. This is certainly in part through the talent of the song writing on show with tracks such as ‘Lived A Lie’ and ‘No One Does It Better’ sounding huge in the live environment.

Whether this new record is the one to see them return to headlining arena’s in their own name remains to be seen, however for now they seem entirely content knowing that No One Does It Better.