Brum Shots

There’s a certain kind of magic in the air tonight in Digbeth – a 4 day weekend has just begun and the weather has gone from horrid to not-so-horrid. The perfect time to celebrate with a gig at XOYO!

Cusk slowly get things started for us, and I do mean slowly… Their first couple of tracks don’t exactly kick things off in the way that you’d hope for a long weekend. But their set is diverse, lyrically compelling and – by the end – rousing and emotional. The casual mention from the lead singer, Esmé, that her ex-boyfriend is in the local prison adds an absurd layer to the already multi-dimensional performance. Truly a memorable set.

Next up is The Murder Capital. It’s the first night of the UK leg of their ‘Blindness’ world tour, so it’s up to Birmingham to set the tone for this stint. But from the off, The Murder Capital certainly do their part to make it a memorable night!

The Dublin-based 5-piece have just released their 3rd album, and with an ever growing fanbase and number of sold out dates ahead of them, they’re gaining traction fast. Their set covers their entire discography, with a heavy focus on their acclaimed new album.

There’s a definable intensity to the performance. Where many bands finish their set on a feel-good up-beat banger, they’ve chosen ‘Love Of Country’ – a song that explores the hatred that is disguised as nationalism.

The energy is made up for throughout the rest of the set though, with crowd favourites ‘Don’t Cling To Life’ and ‘Can’t Pretend To Know.’ A brilliant balance between meaningful, energetic and uplifting.