As the end of January approached, it was time for my first show of the year, as UK Pop-Punk titans Neck Deep hit the o2 Academy in Birmingham as part of their Dumbstruck Dumbfuck tour.
Supports for the night were beloved Alt-Rock icons The Wonder Years, and Pennsylvanian Hardcore punkers One Step Closer.
After an incredibly cold wait to get into the venue, I headed in and waited for the first band, One Step Closer to open up the night. The room was filling up incredibly quickly, and by half 7 when the band took to the stage, you wouldn’t be mistaken for confusing them for the headline act. Their set was a blend of Hardcore, Punk and A sprinkling of pop-punk for good measure, and the crowd ate up every moment of their set. A tight performance and great sound kept me captivated from start to finish, while the crowd well and truly woke up as their contagious energy infected everyone in the room. It’s a great set that sets a high bar for the other acts of the night.
Photography: Dan Stapleton
The second band on were The Wonder Years, who blew me away. I first saw them headlining the second stage at the same time and have been desperate to see them again. Their set was just repeated hit after hit, the energy unmatched and the crowd were feral with crowd surfers flying from the moment they started.
My highlight was Cane Out Swinging, which has resonated with me since my first time hearing it. There truly is no band like The Wonder Years, and all I can say is I can’t wait to see them again the next time they’re in Birmingham.
The Wonder Years have announced a tiny London headline show at The Underworld in Camden for February 1st, following their run supporting Neck Deep around the UK.
Dan Stapleton
Finally, we had the main event, British Pop-Punk’s most generic Pop-Punk band, Neck Deep. This was my third time seeing and photographing Neck Deep, and my god do they just get better every time I see them. The energy was unmatched, the performance was
tight as all hell and the crowd were absolutely incredible. From the almost Hardcore gig level of performance and energy to a setlist full of both fan favourites and deep cuts,
Neck Deep absolutely belongs on the throne of UK pop-punk. The best part of the set though was just watching a band who so obviously love what they do, and wear that love on their sleeve. Song-wise, the setlist focused mostly on their most recent self-titled album, with my highlights being Take Me With You, STFU and Gold Steps.
I don’t really have words to describe how good this show truly was (the irony of this being written in the last paragraph of a review is not lost on me), with three bands all putting on headline-worthy sets. If you’re into Pop-Punk or just want to see a damn good band live, any three of these will satisfy that itch without fail.
Review & Photography: Dan Stapleton
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