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Review of the NME Awards Tour 2012

On the eighth show of the tour; just over half-way through, it’s safe to say the NME Awards Tour 2012 is a pretty damn triumphant one. With a collection of 2011’s finest, most successful and exciting, the atmosphere in the crowd couldn’t be measured.

   Kicking off the evening, Birmingham was graced by the presence of New York female rapper Azealia Banks. Stepping onto the stage with a smile spread across her face and sporting a new hairdo - (‘I’ve come straight from the salon, Birmingham! What do you think?!) bubblegum-pink, and flowing past her waist, those who hadn’t heard her before were in for a shock. Performing songs such as ‘Liquorice’ and ‘212’, it was soon clear to the crowd of half confused half enthralled fans that she wasn’t just another female rapper. With a sharp tongue, colourful language that rivalled her hair, she was definitely noticed, and caused a storm.

Aezalia Banks - courtesy of Google

   Next up were Tribes, fresh from supporting The Kooks on their come-back tour last year. The Camden foursome entered the way they exited; calm and collected, and leather-clad. Pleasing the masses by assuring us we were the ‘biggest crowd yet’, they played a fairly short but strong set, mixing the old favourites such as ‘Sappho’ and ‘When We Were Children’ with the new – exclusives from their latest album; already dubbed as this year’s album of the year.

   Following Tribes were Metronomy, who not only illuminated the stage with their unique and immeasurable electro sound, but also their shirts complete with LED lights, blinking in rhythm. The party atmosphere was infectious as they delved into last year’s ‘The English Riviera’, and there must have only been a handful of people not singing along with ‘The Look’ and ‘Heartbreaker’. Thanking the crowd multiple times, they led the way perfectly for the evening’s headliners.

   Two Door Cinema Club were the icing on top of an amazing (and slightly sweaty) cake. Opening with favourites; ‘Cigarettes in the Theatre’ and ‘Undercover Martyn’, the boys from Bangor were officially back, and with an almighty bang. Bringing the festival ambience to an otherwise-freezing Birmingham evening, it’s hard to imagine them ever being away, as they heightened all anticipation for their upcoming album. A handful of their new songs pleased their energetic and eager fans. The band also reminisced playing numerous times at the Birmingham o2 Academy, and were now so clearly grateful that they had not only made the main stage in the venue’s largest room, but also headlining such a prestigious tour.



Panic on the Streets of Birmingham

I wonder to myself; could life ever be sane again?

As England's main cities battle to get back to normality, the shocking images of the week of riots don't seem to fade as fast.

As a born and raised, proud Brummie, I sat back with the rest of the country and watched in horror as the city was taken over by rebels certainly without cause. Hearing some of the mob declare they were merely 'showing the rich they can do what they want', I can't help but think of 'Hat Man'. Now urban fashion is not exactly to my taste but I'll always admire an underdog, as the face behind the hat is a man who has worked his way up from a market stall to now owning two stores in Birmingham's city centre. His ethos is to make a 'hat that fits all'. Angry tweets fill his twitter about how could 'brothers go against brothers' and 'black people fighting against those who are there to help' but this cannot be even contemplated as a race issue. A greed issue, would be more precise.

Walking past his store today I found myself smiling at his brand new windows; replacing the boards that had occupied the front for a week. And the smile only grew when I walked past 'Cyber Candy' - an out-of-this-world sweet shop, now infamous for being on 'that video' on youtube; being smashed to bits and looted (because ya' know, stealing sweets is hardcore). The store had been previously boarded up and in giant letters the phrase 'Keep Calm and Candy On' had been scrawled defiantly on it, above a peace emblem. Now even that was gone. 

The one loss that can't be patched up with a new sheet of glass is the lives of the three young men, defending their livelihoods and hometown in Winson Green. 20,000 people from all over the world showed to pay their respects at the funeral of Haroon Jahan, Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir. Thousands gathered for a peace rally in Birmingham in their honour, proving community spirit and hope for our country did not die with them.

The atmosphere in the town centre is not one of vibrance and opportunity anymore, but as I have watched ordinary, every-day people in the community come together, with brooms and mugs of tea in a clean-up mission, it's safe to say we're getting there. Destructive subcultures cannot and will not destroy a city. Especially one with such an attractive accent.

 Cyber Candy, Birmingham - Courtesy of Google