Page 40 - Black Velvet Issue 86

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DON BROCO / LIGHT YOU UP / LIT-
TLE FAITH – BIRMINGHAM INSTI-
TUTE TEMPLE, 12.08.15
It’s the week of Don Broco’s ‘Automatic’
album release and the Bedford band have
booked a number of low-key, intimate shows
(along with some instores) which went on sale
to fans that pre-ordered the album first. Birm-
ingham is one of the lucky cities that gets a
show - it’s in the small, sweaty upstairs room
of the Institute – AKA the Temple, a room that
just about holds 300.
Opening band are Little Faith - a three-
piece from Northampton featuring bassist Andy
and guitarist Meg who share vocals and drum-
mer Phil. The trio dwell in alternative indie rock
surroundings. It’s their third show ever, so for
that they do well, although sound-wise the
likes of ‘Form & Void’ and ‘Joyce’ (about Joyce
Vincent) create quite a dark and moody atmos-
phere. They don’t quite capture us like next
band, Light You Up, do.
Light You Up do what their name suggests
and really turn the room into a ball of energy.
Songs such as ‘Breathe’ and ‘Monsters’ excite
the crowd. Frontman Tom Napier comments
on how it’s mind-blowing to see some of the
audience singing along. When he plays an
acoustic song on his own he asks everyone to
light up the room with their phone flashlights –
the audience obliges, to which Tom comments
“This is so sick”. Light You Up are a great Birm-
ingham band and a great band in general.
They definitely know how to win over a crowd
and are a band that will go on to much greater
things. Their album title track, ‘All We’ve Ever
Known’, wraps things up perfectly.
Since forming seven years ago, Don
Broco have been the physical embodiment of
hard work, going out on the road, supporting
larger bands as well as headlining their own
tours. They’ve impressed many and quite
rightly so. Now with their second full-length
album under their belts, the follow-up to ‘Prior-
ities’, the band will soon be making their next
leap to an even higher level. They open their
set with ‘Money Power Fame’, a catchy new
song that already goes down a storm. From
the moment they get on stage Rob, Simon,
Tom and Matt put everything into their set,
Simon in particularly dancing up on a riser
while playing his guitar. The band have a
unique sound that makes them stand out from
the crowd. Both new and old songs have a
funk appeal to the pop-rock tunes, making
them immensely danceable. Songs such as
‘Hold On’ and newer single ‘Automatic’ almost
feel like the band are converting the stage into
a dance club. The four guys look like they’re
enjoying their time on stage too, with big
smiles on their faces. There’s a cheer for ‘the
walk’ in ‘Priorities’ while later in the set, oldie
‘Thug Workout’ converts the room into a hard-
core moshpit with its rabid, quirky, psycho
sound.
Rob tells the crowd his parents are man-
ning the merch stall – and his parents are no
doubt very proud of their son and rightly so.
Don Broco are one of UK’s best rock bands.
The fact that they’re poppy and funky and
everything in between will open them up to a
wider audience. With their new album going
into the album charts at number 6, it surely
won’t be long before they’re sitting right at
number 1.
YYYYY
SBV
Rob Damiani Photo By Shari Black Velvet

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