LIVE REVIEW: Sleeping With Sirens @ O2 Institute, Birmingham
Welcoming SLEEPING WITH SIRENS back to the UK on their second night was an absolute treat for fans in Birmingham on March 14th, with the queue willingly stretching two streets down well before the doors to O2 Institute opened. With STATIC DRESS and CHARMING LIARS supporting, the lineup only enticed fans more.
The night opened up with the American-English hybrid CHARMING LIARS, far more eager than the crowd were at this point they stepped onto the stage with an ominous hum welcoming them to their places. The anthemic When Did We? and Pieces did enough to stir the crowd and warm the venue up, frontman Seth Salois does his fair share of crowd work as well. Desperately trying to be memorable and engaging he talks between each of the six songs they perform, awkwardly asking each half of the crowd to cheer louder than the other — it works for a time but quickly becomes stale. Bowing goodbye with Wreck It All, the four do enough to engage with the venue and show off their live show at its best, before STATIC DRESS have a chance to run away with things.
Rating: 6/10
The energy quickly picks up, with people clearly raring to see STATIC DRESS do what they do best live. The four enter with DSC_301 playing overhead before erupting into Disposable Care’s harsh screams and palpable energy, of which Olli Appleyard channels into his performance whilst he darts about the stage. Sober Exit(s) Appleyard launches his mic stand into the air, only to catch it with ease, leaving fans at the barrier ecstatic. He makes it easy to recognise the extent of his stage presence but there’s more to it than just that, masked guitarist Contrast, is still and poised creating a chilling aura. These elements are what take theatrics on the stage to the next level, making the crowd more willing to submit to the band when Appleyard says things like “open this shit up” with a grin. The excitement of the crowd only grows more evident after the ballad portion of Such A Shame makes way for a queue of crowd surfers during its emo-core chorus. Safe to say the Leeds quartet gave Birmingham their money’s worth and left everyone wanting more.
Rating: 8/10
After an interlude of nothing but ABBA, proving that everybody loves ABBA, the lights dim as SLEEPING WITH SIRENS drummer Matty Best steps up to his drum kit, strobes flash in sync with each strike against a drum skin. The rest of the band storm the stage with unflinching smiles on their faces to open with Break Me Down, the energy in the room embarrasses anything that’s come prior to it tonight with the crowd screaming back the chorus at Kellin Quinn between his coarse screams. Kick Me launches into action with Quinn swinging the mic around his neck and the sentiment of the underdog lyrics carry things away with the crowd’s excitement in tow. The collective confidence across the stage, between the five members, exudes intensely making them look like a team of super heroes. Unfortunately, whilst the band are in their full stride performing Talking To Myself all audio cuts out and leaves everyone in confusion.
After at least five people scrambling to the sound desk, the show resumes after a few minutes. Crosses, Agree To Disagree and Better Off Dead, set the fire beneath the crowd alight leading to Quinn’s vocals being drowned out by the frightful eagerness of fans. Things slow down with the acoustic Scene Five: With Ears To See, and Eyes To Hear. Quinn’s vocals become sultry and soft, singing a sort of lullaby to the crowd after a storm of heavier tracks, a change in atmosphere is clear with the nostalgia washing over everybody. Iris, fan favourite and GOO GOO DOLLS cover, is the dose of romance that everyone needs now and then. After bashing into people for an hour it doesn’t hurt to feel like you’re being held. Resonating throughout the building are the voices of 1500 fans singing back the iconic chorus in stark beauty.
Bloody Knuckles and Go Go Go take things up a gear before the single song encore of classic SLEEPING WITH SIRENS: If You Can’t Hang. Leaving us with the feeling of a prom night reunion and plenty of people more than satisfied, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS showed that they’ve definitely still got it and won’t be going anywhere soon.
Rating: 9/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Birmingham from Max Adams here:
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