Nothing But Thieves, O2 Academy, Birmingham - review and pictures
Most bands may fancy ending their tour in London, but Nothing But Thieves followed Friday's sold out gig at the 'Ally Pally' with a triumphant concert at a full-to-capacity Brum Academy to end their globetrotting adventure.
Frontman Conor Mason recalled that it had only been a few years since the Essex five-piece played to 70 people round the corner at the Sunflower Lounge.
What a difference two thrilling rock albums can make. It's fair to say Saturday's gig was so packed a sardine would have felt claustrophobic.
The melodic hard rockers from Southend-on-Sea have won a loyal following, most of whom seemed lip sync perfect as they sang along to the lyrics with singer/guitarist Conor, whose powerful vocal includes quasi-operatic flourishes that make him a real prince of wails.
Mental health is a recurring theme in such songs as Soda, Broken Machine and Sorry, and the band prove they can rock hard as anyone on such mosh favourites as Ban All The Music, Live Like Animals, Trip Switch, and encore showstoppers Itch and Amsterdam.
For a band with only two albums under their belt, plus a recent EP, they have a surprising high quota of anthemic songs.
If smoking was still allowed in venues, lighters would have been held aloft for the piano and vocal version of Particles.
Instead dozens of phone cameras reproduced Conor in multi-miniature as fans sought to preserve the poignant ballad, brought to a heroic rock climax by long-haired lead guitarist Joe Langridge-Brown.
A selection of 18 tracks from their self-titled debut and this year's Broken Machine album, plus recent single Forever and Ever More, featured in the dynamic, incendiary 80-minute set.
Judging by the clever lighting and video effects, including nifty neon-like live images of the group, this is a band ready to make the transition to the arenas.
They certainly have a big enough sound to fill them, once fans of Muse, U2 and Queen lend an ear and realise what they've been missing.
Spotify, Deezer or download them, even better, buy the vinyl because this is a band on the cusp of major rock stardom.
