The Enemy are audience's best friends

THE ENEMY

BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

words and pictures by James Watkins

Indie/punk rockers The Enemy, returned to Birmingham for the third time this year on their latest stop from the Music For The People tour.

Coventry's finest had previously played the old Academy in Dale End on two sold out dates back in April, but returned to raise the roof on the shiny new Academy in Bristol Street.

Opening with Aggro and Had Enough, frontman Tom Clarke lifted the predominantly young crowd into a mass of moshing and crowd-surfing that only the Enemy seem to capable of inspiring.

Whether it was the thought of playing a home soil gig or the realisation that the fans were in a boundlessly energetic mood, the Enemy produced a classic set list that endeared them to the partisan crowd.

Playing all their hits including Away From Here and This Song Is About You, the crowd were lifted into full song throughout the night.

Offering a much more punky sound with It's Not OK and Elephant Song, Clarke and co. descended into a rip-snorting cover of the Jam's classic song In The City.

After an hour of showcasing their ability to thrash out tunes ten times harder than on record, Happy Birthday Jane and Not Alone ended the set to audacious applause. No doubt the Enemy will be back with a third album next year and another sold out date in the Midlands.