Express & Star

Von Hertzen Brothers and Blue Nation, O2 Institute 2, Birmingham - review

It is a blessing to see technically gifted musicians strutting their stuff.

Published
Last updated
Von Hertzen Brothers at Birmingham's O2 Institute 2 Photo: Leigh Sanders

Von Hertzen Brothers put their instruments centre stage, displaying skill and ability to pull crowds in with their sheer talent. And they do so with a smile as big as the stage itself on their faces.

The Finnish five-piece know how to play an instrument. The rockers' instrumentals are a joy to behold, and their long, carefully choreographed songs are like the finest rock opera hits of shows like War Of The Worlds (incidentally, currently in Birmingham itself of course).

Led by the ridiculously good looking siblings Mikko, Jonne and Kie, Von Hertzen Brothers utilise guitars and keys in the prog fashion to leave you feeling like you're watching a night of storytelling, not music.

We were treated to a slick, composed set by Brummie support act Blue Nation.

Former The Ticket Unsigned page stars Blue Nation Photo: Leigh Sanders

More blues rock in their sound, the former The Ticket Unsigned page stars gave us 45 minutes of no-nonsense melodies with some funky flicks thrown in from the delicious bass playing of Luke Weston.

That manifested itself deep in the core of opener Slave, and they added some thumping rock percussion thanks to Codsall lad Chris Bloor with Only One.

Grittier rock snarled at us through Gone and Be Back Soon, the three-piece showing their mettle with alternating sounds.

READ MORE: Birmingham Unsigned group Blue Nation talk about their career so far

The between-tune patter from frontman Neil Murdoch was a hook as well. The band took the pee out of themselves with ease. It made a difference from the often-nervous mutterings of many support slots.

And the crowd - only maybe 150-to-200 heavier feeling fans - seemed to lap it up while they waited for their main course.

The brothers did not disappoint. They opened with the title track from last year's LP War Is Over. It's one of those rock opera moments. Pushing towards the eight-minute mark it soars and swooshes with big melodies and keys that explode in a final crescendo.

You Don't Know My Name showed the racier side of the band with harmonised vocals adding to the thumping percussion and hard-hitting melodies.

They threw Dreams into the set with its laid back, funk-infused guitars mixing with punched keys in a style not too dissimilar to The Hold Steady. And the stadium sound chorus of Kiss A Wish leading into another frenetic stage musical-style instrumental was lifted further for their immersive light display for such a small venue. Long Lost Sailor and Coming Home sounded raucous too.

When they returned for their encore, The Arsonist was perhaps a weaker choice - particularly as the vocals were a bit off in the first half. But they more than made up for it by closing with 2015 single New Day Rising. Full of energy and an explosive sound, both them and us looked like they were having a right blast.

The brothers weren't the only ones leaving with a smile on their faces.