The Review

In an over-crowded O2 Academy 3 it was hard to see why these two bands weren’t playing the larger room, however the packed room made for an incredible atmosphere.

The first band playing (who’s name I don’t know, I’m sorry) were a local pop punk band, they managed to get the crowd in the mood for the two main acts, but didn’t seem to be around long enough to really get into their set.

The second band ALLBRIGHT who are very popular in their hometown of Birmingham, the crowd responded very positively to them. They played an amazing set including crowd favourite ‘Phone Home’, for a band who haven’t played together in a long time they performed a faultless set. Frontman Liam Price really got the crowd singing and dancing along by joining the crowd whilst performing. From the reaction of the audience later it seems Allbright really enlisted some new fans this evening

The headline act ARMY OF FRESHMEN didn’t take long to get the already lively crowd really moving, including a request section of the show where they had audience members play rock, paper, scissors to choose a song and had a ten year old boy up on stage to request ‘At The End Of The Day’. Playing many songs from their earlier albums, like Spring Break from their self titled album and Paradise, Uniforms, Get Um Up and my personal favourite Last Dance from Beg, Borrow, Steal. Lead singer Chris Jay never fails to interact with any crowd and certainly delivered tonight with his witty banter and almost jumping onto the front row at every given oppurtunity. Army of Freshmen, completed by Bassist Kai Dodson, Guitarist and Vocalist Aaron Goldberg, Owen Bucey on Keyboards, Dan Clark on Moog and Drummer Mike Milligan who all pulled off an energetic, perfect set. This band are so committed they spent hours before and after their set chatting to as many fans as they could, signing tickets, shirts, shoes, body parts etc and posing for photos, proving as they do everytime I see them they really are the hardest working, nicest group of musicians in the world.

(pictures are coming soon once I get some uploaded)