WORDS AND IMAGES DESH KAPUR
“The Twang, an indie rock band hailing from Birmingham, England, emerged onto the British music scene with a bang in 2007, riding the success of their debut album, ‘Love It When It Feels Like This,’ which soared to number 3 on the UK charts. The singles ‘Wide Awake,’ ‘Either Way,’ ‘Two Lovers,’ and ‘Drinking In L.A.’ became anthems, establishing The Twang as a force to be reckoned with.
Fast forward to a night packed with eager fans at the Rockin Chair in Wrexham, where anticipation hung thick in the air. The venue buzzed with excitement, a testament to the band’s dedicated following.
Before The Twang took the stage, Chappaqua Wrestling, a band I’ve seen and admired multiple times, set the tone for the evening. Despite their undeniable talent and a growing reputation, tonight felt slightly off for me—the mix wasn’t quite right. Although they gave it their all, the magic I knew they possessed seemed to elude them.
Then, the moment arrived for The Twang to enter the stage. Lead guitarist Stu Hartland initiated the journey with the unmistakable riff of ‘Wide Awake,’ and the room erupted in response, with Phil Etheridge’s vocals nearly drowned out by the voices of fervent Wrexham supporters.
The setlist unfolded like a stroll down memory lane, featuring The Twang’s greatest hits. ‘Barney Rubble’ followed ‘Wide Awake,’ each note resonating with the crowd. The Rockin Chair, reverberated with the collective voices of the fans.
What distinguishes a live performance by The Twang is the connection between the band and their followers. Everyone present was there to revel in the music, creating an atmosphere of unbridled joy. Etheridge, at one point, urged the crowd to hoist someone onto their shoulders during ‘You On My Shoulders,’ and a willing participant in the audience obliged.
As the set reached its climax, classics like ‘Either Way’ and ‘Two Lovers’ left an indelible mark on my memory. Once again, the audience rose to the occasion, lifting the roof with their voices.
The band returned for the obligatory encore, culminating in the anthemic ‘Guapa.’ The crowd seized this final opportunity to bounce and sing with true joy.
The Twang delivered a brillaint performance, prompting reflection on why they didn’t achieve massive success on the scale of some of their contemporaries. It was a night of music, celebration, and camaraderie, leaving a lingering sense of wonder about the unique journey of The Twang in the ever-evolving landscape of music.”
SET LIST
1/ WIDE AWAKE
2/ BARNEY RUMBLE
3/ ICE CREAM SUNDAE
4/ WE’RE A CROWD
5/ ENCOURAGING SIGN
6/ MAINLINE
7/ GOT ME SUSSED
8/ BACK WHERE WE STARTED
9/ YOU ON MY SHOULDERS
10/ EITHER WAY
11/ IT FEELS LIKE
12/ PARADISE
13/ TWO LOVERS
14/ TOOK THE FUN
ENCORE
15/ TINSEL TOWN
16/ DRINKING IN LA
17/ GUAPA
18/ CLOUDY ROOM
FOLLOW THE TWANG
FOLLOW CHAPPAQUA WRESTLING
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
