WORDS AND IMAGES BY DESH KAPUR
The Enemy were in Manchester to play a special reunion show as part of their latest tour to celebrate 15 years of their debut album ‘We’ll Live and Die in These Towns.‘ And Manchester’s O2 ritz was packed to the rafters with 1500 fans ready to see the band play, back together for the first time since 2016. “We’ll Live and Die in These Towns” was the band’s debut album released on 9 July 2007. It went to number #1 on its first week of release in the British album charts. It peaked at #34 on the World Album Chart.
Formed in Coventry in 2006. the band consists of singer and multi-instrumentalist Tom Clarke, Bass player Andy Hopkins and drummer Liam Watts
Arriving a bit late and missing the first two bands was very disappointing Manchester parking can be a nightmare at times, but at least I was going to be there for the main event
As I walked in the first thing that struck me was the Mod-tinged crowd, Pretty Green, Fred Perry, Gazelles and Mop tops were the uniform of choice, and the audience age was very much of the 30’s upwards variety.
But the vibe and excitement that seem to hang in the air was a massive indication of how the night was going to be, a hot, sweaty noughties nostalgia party.
The house music stopped, the house lights dimmed, and the band strode onto the stage with the confidence of a band who looked like they hadn’t had a 6-year hiatus they launched straight into “AGGRO” and the place erupted,
Playing the album in track order and without taking a breath they smashed into ‘AWAY FROM HERE, ‘PRESSURE’ and ‘HAD ENOUGH’ and the famous Ritz bouncy floor was getting a workout and half.
At this point I thought this can’t get any better the crowd surely can’t go off any more than they already are, and I was so wrong as the iconic horns of “WE’LL LIVE AND DIE IN THESE TOWNS” started it went bonkers, people singing at the tops of their voices, beer flying through the air, mosh pits erupting all over the venue it was a sight to behold, now even the walls were sweating
As the band work through the album track by track “YOU’RE NOT ALONE” “ITS NOT OK” “TECHNODANCEAPHOBIC” “40 DAYS & 40 NIGHTS” “THIS SONG” “HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE” the crowd never stop, it is non stop indie rock, served up British style, very reminiscent of early Weller and the Jam, seasoned with Oasis, the atmosphere in the room is one of the best I have experienced, 1500 people all here for one thing, The Enemy playing this iconic album and it was beautiful
The Enemy were glorious tonight, from start to finish, I nearly forgot how awesome “We’ll Live And Die In These Towns” was, brilliant Indie, unashamedly British,
SETLIST
1/ AGGRO
2/ AWAY FROM HERE
3/ PRESSURE
4/ HAD ENOUGH
5/ WE’LL LIVE AND DIE IN THESE TOWNS
6/ YOU’RE NOT ALONE
7/ ITS NOT OK
8/ TECHNODANCEAPHOBIC
9/ 40 DAYS & 40 NIGHTS
10/ THIS SONG
11/ HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE
ENCORE
12/ BE SOMEBODY
13/ GIMME THE SIGN
14/ NO TIME FOR TEARS
15/ THIS SONG
FOLLOW THE ENEMY
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
