Page 58 - Black Velvet Issue 91

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YELLOWCARD / NORMANDIE / THE KENNETHS – BIRMINGHAM O2 INSTITUTE, 18.12.16

While in the queue outside the O2 Institute shortly before doors, we the set, for those that hadn’t seen the news online. Songs such as ‘Way
hear that Yellowcard bassist Josh Portman has been admitted into hospital Away’ and ‘Breathing’ are still, to this day, some of the best songs we’ve
after suffering dizziness the night before. The band posted on Twitter that, ever heard. They blew us away when we first discovered Yellowcard when
rather than cancel the show, they’d decided to play debut album ‘Ocean ‘Ocean Avenue’ was released, and still sound as fantastic now.
Avenue’ acoustically, in full. You can tell it’s a last minute and unexpected event as there are mo-
Up first are The Kenneths, a punky three-piece from London. It seems ments where they have small ‘live rehearsals’ before beginning certain
there have been a few mishaps on this tour. Vocalist/guitarist Josh Weller songs. Ryan Key tells Ryan Mendez he’s in charge with how fast or slow
announces that female drummer Aicha has a broken foot. The doctor told one song begins. “Do you think anyone has started a moshpit to three
her not to play drums for six weeks – however, here she is on stage giving dudes playing acoustic?” asks Key before ‘Life Of A Salesman’. He tells
it her all. The band make a large sound for the small three-piece that they the crowd “It’s real and it’s raw”, whereas they’ve been playing to a click
are. ‘All Cried Out’ is an unruly, in-your-face punk rock tune, while ‘What track for the past 13 years. Ryan Key stands up during the third song after
Happened To The Radio’ is a more melodic, sing-along number. Then settling into the set.
there’s ‘What Happened To My Sex’, a boisterous moshpit maker. Josh There’s a big cheer for ‘Believe’ and claps during the song, while be-
goes into the crowd in the final song and ends up at the back of the venue. fore final song, ‘Back Home’, Ryan gives a speech, thanking the crowd
We won’t be surprised if 2017 is The Kenneths’ year. for understanding the situation and for singing along to all the songs.
Normandie from Sweden are the filling in tonight’s three-band sand- “Without this record we wouldn’t be here,” he says, referring to ‘Ocean
wich. With a song called ‘Believe’ (like Yellowcard), Normandie are a rock Avenue’. We’re thankful for ‘Ocean Avenue’, as it did bring the band to
band you will believe in once seeing them. Their impressive set follows a our attention back in the early 2000s, and hearing it played acoustic
post-hardcore and alternative rock pattern. Frontman Philip Strand has makes it a special show that no-one else has gotten to see. While we’d
resilient vocals, although raspy in places. ‘Collide’ makes your senses have loved to have seen a longer 23-song electric set, we’re more than
collide, with heartfelt lyrics and intoxicating instrumentation. Normandie happy to have seen this acoustic set and thank the band for not having
are a discovery you’ll want to make, if you haven’t yet. cancelled the show. We hope that bassist Josh Portman gets better soon
Yellowcard are partway through a final world tour. They announced and wish the members all the best in the future. We’ll miss Yellowcard,
they would be going their separate ways before releasing their final album, but have some amazing memories from shows such as this one to look
the self-titled ‘Yellowcard’. The tour has been getting long 23-song electric back on.
sets, but due to the unfortunate incident of Josh Portman, Birmingham YYYY
gets a 13-song ‘Ocean Avenue Acoustic’ set instead. Both vocalist/guitarist Shari Black Velvet
Ryan Key and guitarist Ryan Mendez sit on stools, while violinist Sean
Mackin stands for the set. Ryan Key explains the situation at the start of Ryan Key & Ryan Mendez (Yellowcard) Photo By Shari Black Velvet
CONCERTS