Bring Me The Horizon w/ Neck Deep at 02 Academy Birmingham
Walking into the packed out Academy, you could tell there was such a buzz around the venue with the 'That's The Spirit' album doing so well. There is a various age range about the place and looking around it looks like a first gig for so many of the youngest, what an amazing first gig to attend! A good majority of the crowd are wearing BMTH merch, showing why they've very nearly sold out the Birmingham Academy twice over.
First onto the stage were Neck Deep (7/10). Who over the past two years have gone from strength to strength and have taken America by storm! Personally I'm not a huge fan but I can't help but think while standing at the side, how fun they are live!
By about the third song the first pit opens of the day, mostly full of energetic teenagers who have had too many energy drinks, makes me worry about how beer will effect them in a couple of years time. The setlist was a couple of songs longer for the evening show, the most popular songs were played by the five piece from Wrexham. Including, "Gold Steps" & "Can't Kick Up The Roots". All in all, a great support and they have more then likely won over a few people to give them a closer listen.
We had half an hour to wait for Bring Me The Horizon and it was worth every single second. Straight away, the production smacks you in the face, so many lights and screens. The sold out Birmingham Academy roars with excitement as the band walk out onto the stage. "Doomed" blares out and is the first song performed by the Sheffield five piece and with no break, straight into "Happy Song".
Being the first single off the album, every word was screamed out by the passionate brummies. The pit was crazy, people were losing shoes, crying and generally just trying to stay alive. Suppose this is the outcome when a band changes there sound so much. After "Happy Song", everyone seems to find there feet and looks a bit more happy.
As the set list goes on, I realise how many hits BMTH have had over the past few years from the last two albums' Sempiternal' and 'That's The Spirit'. It's a bit like being at a Robbie Williams concert before 2006 though. We are well into the setlist now and there is a silence around the venue then suddenly Oli screams out the start of "Chelsea Smile" and a good number of the crowd join in. Proving that even the older songs have a place on the stage for the future BMTH.
Pretty much every person knows the words to every single song. It's a shame that Birmingham doesn't have a venue that is the capacity between the Birmingham Academy (3,859) and the huge NIA which holds 12,802. If you took all the fans from both shows the whole experience would have been even better!
All members walk off of the stage ready to return in a couple of minutes to perform two final songs, "Bless With A Cursed" and "Drown". "Bless With A Cursed" was my favourite point in the night because this was the first song that made me listen to them. A few fans would probably agree with me, showing again that the BMTH classics still have a place on the setlist.
Bring Me The Horizon have changed throughout the years, they have changed from stripes to spots but are still the same Tiger. It doesn't seem long until they will be taking on bigger and better things and maybe an arena tour next?
It was a fantastic day for me overall, getting to see a band with some more passion and love for the music industry. I would give Bring Me The Horizon is solid 8/10. They are brilliant but I wouldn't be able to see them over and over again. I wish them all the best with their future plans and really do hope they keep going on leaps and bounds.
COMMENTS
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I have always been on the rocks with Bring Me The Horizon (especially since they altered their sound so dramatically) but from what I heard from friends, most of their shows went down amazing! Wish I had found time to catch them in Cardiff.
