More Interviews...
Features...
Reviews...

Just a little over a year ago, tonight’s headlining band were just five average teenagers with a dream in their heads and a certain penchant for catching Megabus around the south of the country. They started off small, playing to tiny clubs and half filled rooms, maybe hoping that one day, they’d get a van, maybe record an EP or two...

Tonight however, we bear witness to the five young men of You Me At Six, as they teeter on the very edge of great success. Tonight they play the first of many sold out shows in support of their newly released debut album ‘Take Off Your Colours’; the product of over a year’s hard graft touring and winning over crowds and fans, well, worldwide.

A mark of how far this band have come can be seen merely through the sheer length of the queue, circling the outside walls of Middlesbrough’s Empire, despite the cold October weather this evening. Spirits undampened, the queue enter and become a crowd; able to warm themselves to the pleasant offerings of tonight’s openers, Farewell. The American band are on their first trip to the UK, but the audience still eat up their sugary pop punk sound, thoroughly enjoying the band’s half hour set. Highlights including, but not limited to, the semi-acoustic performance of ‘War’, as well as a perfectly executed rendition of album opener ‘Start It Up’.

Next up, a more established band take to the stage, and prove to the crowd exactly why Houston Calls have gained such a legendary status over in the USA. The New Jersey pros rip up the stage in a similar manner to their pop punk neighbours New Found Glory, and with a set closer of ‘Bob and Bonnie’, the crowd are left buzzing for the headliners.

Yet, tonight is most obviously reserved for one act in particular. As the lights go down for the introduction of You Me At Six’s set, the screams of female fans become more desperate and shrill, while the walls of the venue seem fit to burst. Bounding onstage with album opener ‘The Truth Is a Terrible Thing’, the singalongs begin with no threat to end any time soon. The band tear through MySpace favourite ‘Gossip’, before launching straight into their latest single ‘Jealous Minds Think Alike’. Stopping only to catch their breaths, the band slow things down with another old favourite ‘You’ve Made Your Bed’ and it becomes impossible not to smile at how taken aback the band really are.

Throughout the set, the band display a new level of sophistication and confidence, far beyond their years, and it’s enough to make any critic pleasantly surprised. By the time they reach their debut single ‘Save It For The Bedroom’, lead singer Josh Franceschi has the crowd at his command - something very few eighteen year olds would have the pleasure of boasting - and the show reaches a new level of excitement. Debuting some tracks for the first time this evening, the band remain tight and impressive; the only criticism being in that their set barely lasts an hour, leaving some fans unsatisfied.

Yet, as the familiar chords of ‘The Rumour’ echo around the room, the show escalates to a climax. It’s almost comforting to know that this is the only way their shows have ever ended, with one final epic push. Clapping hands and strained voices sing, the crowd and band alike end the show triumphant and proud. But, we all know this isn’t the end. It’s only just begun for these five boys.

Image kindly donated by Sinead Grainger.