Live Review - Hed P.E

Hed P.E, Enemo J & Devils Playground @ Birmingham Academy 3, 20/04/17

It’s been a while since we set foot through the doors of room 3 of the Birmingham Academy and to be honest we had totally forgotten how much we here at Hush love the smallest room at the 02. It’s small enough to have a real sense of intimacy but yet has all the right feels to make sure you know that you are inside the 02 Academy Birmingham, still one of the best venues to play in the U.K. 

Kicking off tonights show are Devils Playground, the 6 piece from Birmingham; they are a rip roaring good time and have the hometown crowd on side from the outset. Devils Playground are unashamedly a throw back to the late 90s/ early noughties where the formula of Nu Metal was angry rap offset with a powerful vocal, driving beats and killer riffs, all of this Devils Playground do perfectly. We will definitely be looking out for these guys again. 

Next on tonights bill are one of the U.Ks hardest working bands and one that we at Hush have been lucky enough to know in person over the years. Enemo J have always been on the cusp of “making it” but just not caught that big break, although they’ve supported the likes of Korn and played the hallowed Download festival. Enemo J bring with them a solid fan base who know  the songs word for word and are clearly into it. Enemo J rock the stage hard and get the crowd suitably warmed up for tonights headliners…

Hed P.E are old school superstars and this oozes out of each member, they have a quality and a class that is rarely seen in todays breed of musicians. They look like they’re having fun as soon as they step on stage and clearly don’t take themselves too seriously. Opening up with a reggae infused version of Killing Time and soon jamming and throwing in snippets of different songs including a bit of Bob Marley. At one point lead vocalist Jared Gomes mistakes the day and thinks it’s Thursday while he’s free styling, stops and checks with the crowd that he is definitely in Birmingham! Hed P.E are not for the faint hearted, they have some of the best lyrics in the business some of which have a satirical edge or tongue in cheek vibe but some hit a serious note and with a very big “FUCK TRUMP” at one point during the set it’s clear on what side of the political fence Hed P.E sit. On stage Hed P.E are a tight outfit, heavy, loud and perfectly professional. It’s a shame that as a band they never hit the fame that they deserved, for us they outweigh their contemporaries in most aspects. If you are a fan of Limp Bizkit or Linkin Park and you have never heard any Hed P.E then you are doing yourself a serious injustice. 

What a great night.