Music Reviews

The Twang - Carling Academy Birmingham - 17th September 2007

What a difference a couple of years makes. Last time I saw The Twang they were performing at a club night at Birmingham's Sanctuary to a crowd of about 30 - most of whom didn't know who they were.

The Twang

But this homecoming gig at the Academy 2 was rammed with hundreds of adoring fans - ranging from 15 to 50. That's one of the things that's so great about this band - they inspire loyalty in a huge range of different people.

The other great thing is their sheer musical force. Kicking off with The Neighbour they started building the crowd up early on and by the time Either Way was hitting the eardrums the crowd at the front was ecstatic. A bit of beer throwing and crowd surfing added to the fantastic atmosphere in the shrunken Academy 2.

Chart favourites like Two Lovers and Wide Awake were thrilling to watch - but The Twang aren't one of those bands that you just go to see for the hits. Songs like Push the Ghosts were equally as enjoyable – and the upcoming single Ice Cream Sundae went down a treat.

The Twang

You'd expect a Birmingham band to be received well in their home city - but the energy Phil Etheridge and Saunders put into the vocals really stands out. The cheeky Mad-chester style they're famous for is undoubtedly there - but you get the impression they're deadly serious about the lyrics.

Considering they've only really been in the public eye since last October and released their debut album back in June, it feels like this band has come a long way. Their sound is getting better and more polished and the whole band looks amazingly comfortable performing live. In fact, you get the feeling they're on the verge of even bigger things.