Thursday 12/04/07 The Enemy, One Night Only @ Academy 2, Birmingham

Once a region of fearless, enigmatic industrial clout, The Midlands over recent years has become a region in considerable industrial disarray. No longer does it stand as the manufacturing heartland of the United Kingdom that it once was. Instead, where there were once empowering major car factories (which have all closed, leaving thousands jobless) there are stagnant signs of Britain’s economic future – flats, flats and flats. It’s certainly a grim outlook. Yet, tonight, in the depths of Birmingham’s Academy 2 venue, there’s not one disillusioned face in sight. Why, you ask? Well, that’s simple, tonight The Enemy are in town and if you haven’t already heard their self-proclaimed prophecy, they’ll ‘live and die in these towns.’

While the price of production might have taken these boys family’s jobs away, the misery that’s been left in its wake has put The Midlands firmly back on the musical map. With songs about escapism, rebellion and weekend hedonism, in just over a year the Coventry band have become the commuter’s new favourite band. The band whose music makes you want to stick your chest out as you slump through the office doors, and the band whose music makes you want to spray precious squirts of your favourite aftershave before your Friday night on the pull in Whetherspoons.

Before the potent stench of Old Spice swamps our throats however, there’s York’s latest starlets One Night Only to admire. While they’ve received less airplay than tonight’s headliners, the five-piece step onto the cramped stage clad in Camden Market’s finest hand-me-downs and with the ink on their newly acquired Vertigo Records contract still drying. Impressive accomplishment from a band yet to release a full single? Certainly, but, after an energetic set which boasts glorious synth keyboards, an orchestral concoction of guitars and driving bass lines, it’s easy to see why Vertigo have taken the gamble. At their most euphoric (‘Just A Thought’) they’re like Brandon Flowers’ gushy love children (which is a good thing), yet, they also possess the ability to – in moments of sombreness – provide uplifting, yet heart touching breakdowns (‘Hide’). It’s all rather good and frivolous fun, and at its peak, it’s even enough to win tonight’s football crowd over.