KEO achieved a rare feat for the digital music age – establishing a fanbase off the back of some Soundcloud uploads. By the time their debut single came out last March, a buzz for the London-based 4-piece came quickly with it. So it’s no surprise that the release shows for their debut album, Put A Smile On For Me, have been met with such anticipation.
Tonight’s gig at Digbeth’s XOYO is unusal – no support act, no build up. The venue doors simply opened up and the show began. KEO have the difficult job of warming themselves up as they perfect, but there’s no shortage of support from the chanting crowd.
We start off at pace with Be Happy and Pistol before Bird On The Wire slows things down for a tender, melodic few minutes. A crowd favourite for the 600-strong sold out crowd is Thorn – it’s sung back at KEO with alarming volume for a Monday night! It won’t be long before the new music receives the same treatment.
We may be entering autumn, but the indie shoegaze goodness practically fast-forwards time to festival season next summer. Spent On You and Only We Know are practically begging to be screamed at the top of your lungs while sat on a strangers shoulders with a quickly-approaching-lukewarm pint.
‘I don’t want to see a single person standing still for this song.’ Vocalist Finn Keogh demands, before screaming THAT’S ME to a riotus response from the crowd. Loser and Blue Song bring back strong memories of 00’s emo and emphasises the grunge influence of such a new, young band. After a short encore, we’re dedicated to an unrehearsed rendition of Kind, If You Will, dedicated to some fans the band ran into earlier today. To bring the night to a close, we go all the way back to the start. I Lied, Amber brings us in a full circle for this up-and-coming 4-piece, from their debut single to their triumphant album release. It’s exciting to think where they might go next…
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