Live Review - You Me At Six

You Me At Six with Tonight Alive @ Birmingham O2 Academy, 10/04/17

Tonight Alive are a band that over the last couple of years have gained great momentum, playing second stage at Reading and Leeds last year we really saw the impact of their popularity. We can expect to see them touring main stage O2’s on their own tour very very soon, but on this night they were here as special supports for You Me At Six. 

Until this night honestly, Tonight Alive were an unremarkable band to us here at Hush. They’re not the sort of band you dislike, there is nothing to dislike, but slightly, perhaps, unremarkable. Middle of the road, “friendly rock” if you will. BUT! As soon as Jenna stepped foot on the stage we were captivated! She (with wings and all) is a complete star! Her performance as a front woman should be studied as; How To Be A Front Woman, she has a remarkably subtlety and a dignity, she’s feminine without being provocative, and she’s cool without trying to be a dude. Her talent and her presence is just stunning. Being drawn in by Jenna you realise actually, these tunes are heavier than you give them credit for, each song after the other (although all slightly similar in format) sounding like it could be their anthem. You could have been fooled that the crowd was here to see them, but no, we had a further treat to come…

You Me At Six have had quite a journey, starting out as five youths from Surrey with punk in their hearts, they started out together on their journey, first hitting out with (still fan favourite) track Save It For The Bedroom from stunning debut album Take Off Your Colours, and carrying on through their career to find themselves here tonight with their Radio 1 heralded fifth album Night People. 

It’s a joy to watch a British band through the life of a career, starting out as unknowns and building that fan base and popularity gradually as people twig on to the talent and the enigmatic tunes. You Me At Six are really the story of success, still with the same line up, these guys have honed their talents and truly progressed from a small fun punk band, to a rock and rock band with popularity and gravitas. They perform as a powerful unit, with passion and tenacity, blasting hit after hit with precision. The crowd were insane, and they literally knew every word to every song, it’s a wonder to see a crowd so invested, so much so that Josh felt the need to appreciate the moment, he took the Hush camera to capture it for himself… 

Maybe stick to the vocals aye Josh.