Stereophonics + The Enemy @ Birmingham NEC
11th November 2007
"We're The Enemy and we're gonna play a few songs for ya" says frontman Tom as he swaggers onto the NEC stage. It's been a massive year for these three boys from Coventry, going from playing to their mates in backstreet pubs to having a number 1 album, selling out a headlining tour and now playing arenas as support to the Stereophonics.
Kicking off with single "Away From Here", they waste no time and win the crowd over instantly with their cheeky laddish anthems and cocky charm. Audiences don't often enter into huge singalongs when the opening act is on but, as the boys climax with the majestic "You're Not Alone" it's easy to imagine that next time they play arenas, it'll be as headliners.
Tonight's headliners make it all look too easy. Kelly Jones looks born to the role as he straps on his guitar and, in his trademark shades, begins to role out the hits. A storming "Bartender & The Thief" is followed by "Thousand Trees", and the crowd is back in full voice singing every word straight back to him.
Tonight the band are joined by another local boy in the form of Spider Simpson's Adam, adding some extra weight to the 'Phonics' sound on guitar.
It's a mammoth set too, with over twenty tracks crammed in to a couple of hours, "Dakota" being the predictable highlight. At times it can seem a little too slick for it own good but the fans love every minute of it.
Words and photos: Steve Gerrard
www.rock-photo.com