This is so not the day for a gig. It’s thirty-five degrees outside, the UK seems to be in the grip of a figurative traffic meltdown to go with the literal heat-wave enveloping the island, and the thought of travelling to Birmingham to embrace the claustrophobic confines of the O2 Academy 3 is about as tempting as licking my own armpit clean. However, with Crobot headlining the show, not to mention the mighty Wolf Jaw in support, it’s off to Birmingham we go, braving the rail network and an overheating car along the way in an attempt to recreate the horror of planes, trains and automobiles first-hand.
Surprisingly, the Academy 3 actually has the best air-conditioning in the building and, in stark contrast to the recent (and entirely awesome) Gojira show, which took place in the sweltering vat of ball-soup that is the Academy 1, the venue is surprisingly cool, although it heats up considerably as the evening wears on. As such, it’s something of a relief to get inside in time for the opening band to light up the night.
Opening proceedings, liberty Lies get things moving with a dose of heavy rock, varied in influences and powerful in delivery. Sometimes psychedelic, sometimes bluesy, they raise the spectre of everything from Whitesnake (especially on songs like the wire, which is delivered with a suitable dose of vocal hysteria) to Shinedown and there’s no doubting that frontman Shaun Richards has a truly impressive voice. Clearly a band with a loyal following in Birmingham, their performance is very slick, and whilst penultimate number, letters, delivered acoustic, offers a touch more light and shade than we find elsewhere in the evening, it causes the set to drag a touch. However, from the wild applause the band receive, it would seem that this is the minority view and there’s no question the band put their collective heart and soul into their show.
Whilst Shakespeare may have questioned what is in a name, in the case of Wolf Jaw (formerly the bad Flowers), they truly are a band reborn. A far tougher proposition than previously, the band (fronted by a freshly shorn Tom Leighton) have upped the ante considerably, with even familiar songs seething with newfound attitude. Not that the band have ever given anything less than 100% to their performance, mind – it’s just that they sound a whole lot tougher now; a notion reinforced by new track I lose my mind, which they air this evening. Newbies aside, the band deliver highlights from their excellent starting gun debut, kicking off the night with the still-blistering thunder child and dropping hurricane, like the proverbial, hot potato, into the middle of the set as if it’s not the belting rock anthem that it is. Ending with city lights we are reminded, once again, that Wolf Jaw are a class act and they damn near steal the night with a set jammed full of classics-in-the-making. Fresh from their rapturously-received appearances(s) at Download, it surely can’t be long before Wolf jaw are headlining shows of this stature.
Oh, but then there’s Crobot. Back with their finest album to date in motherbrain, the band are firing on all cylinders as they take to the stage, seemingly oblivious to its size constraints and leaping around like someone filled their underwear with soapy frogs (hey, it could happen).
So, yeah, anyway… the band unleash an epic opening number in legend of the spaceborne killer, the still-awesome title track from their 2012 debut, then up the ante with skull of Geronimo (even as cries of “you sexy beast” can be heard echoing through the venue) – a riff-fest of seismic proportions. However, the band still aren’t done notching up the temperature and, like some sort of malevolent, riff-firing machine pistol, they tear through a version of keep me down so lively, it nearly tears the roof off the venue. Seriously, even by previous standards, Crobot are one heavy, heavy band tonight and it is almost a relief when La Mano de Lucifer allows for a calmer introduction, only for the track to explode as Brandon and Chris alternate between surfing on the crowd and on each other. From there, Crobot can do no wrong. Whether it’s the funky Alpha dog, stunning new single, low life or the (comparatively) restrained queen of the night, the band simply slay, leaving the audience to stumble out into the humid night air, somewhat in awe of the spectacle they’ve just witnessed.
Overall a fantastic night in which three acts took to the stage at the Academy 3 and satisfyingly raised the roof. One of the UK’s fastest-rising talents, Wolf Jaw once again showed off some serious chops whilst Crobot simply pulverised the venue. With the gig taking place on the hottest day of the year, it is inevitable that some stayed at home with a cold beer to hand… it’s an understandable decision, but also a terrible mistake. These bands are destined for bigger things and the window of opportunity to see them as up close and personal as we do today is surely closing. An epic gig for sure, but wait for motherbrain to drop… Crobot are about to go supernova.
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