Live Review: The Enemy - O2 Ritz, Manchester 28/09/2022
The Enemy were well and truly back in action, lifting the roof off of the O2 Ritz in Manchester for their special reunion show to celebrate 15 years of their debut album 'We'll Live And Die In These Towns'.
It is not unusual to watch the Coventry based, three-piece band put on a hectic show, they have been doing so for two decades now. In true British indie-rock fashion they have proved that even still, after 6 years of no shows and no touring, they have still got what it takes to leave everyone who was in attendance completely astounded.
After the two very carefully chosen support acts, Wide Eyed Boy and Little Man Tate finished their wonderful sets, a noughties brit pop playlist kept the waiting crowd entertained. A very alcohol fuelled; giddy audience kept the energy maintained before The Enemy stormed the stage.
The moment Tom Clark paraded on to that dimmed and dark stage and the first guitar chords started from ‘Aggro’, the high tempo first track from the album ‘We’ll Live and Die In These Towns’, it was almost like the band had never left in the first place.
With the band making their way through the album in track list order, the crowd had the springy floors of the O2 Ritz bouncing like never before. Standing out to me and probably a lot of other people in the crowd that night, it was evident that this audience were there to enjoy the current moment. With hardly a phone in site, strangers hugging one another, and pints being launched all over the place, it was almost like a portal back to the band’s beginnings, back in 2006.
If you have been in attendance at one of The Enemy’s prior gigs you will know that during any small silences or changes in guitars, chants of ‘This Song Is About You’ will more than likely kick off, this time just before ‘You’re Not Alone’ commenced and it really did bring goose bumps to all.
Main singer, Tom Clark especially seemed to be very grateful to be back in the presence of the packed out 1,500 capacity infamous venue, for night one of the two sold out nights at The Ritz. “This is what we do it for Manchester” Clark voiced just before ripping into the last half of the setlist.
Throughout the entire 75-minute set there wasn’t a fault musically, the tightness between all sections of the band is unbelievable, I imagine that is due to the years spent performing together. Something to definitely pick up on is the extremely talented vocals exhibited, far from others of similar acts in the same field. Although the majority of the audience are willing to diminish their voices throughout the course of the night.
Next up was arguably the one everyone is there to hear, ‘This Song Is About You’, there is never a doubt on anyone’s minds that this song wouldn’t land well after the innumerable chants of the chorus in between every other quietness, nevertheless everyone including the trio on stage seemed to be emotionally taken back during the last chorus of the heart-rending anthem. And as expected the outro of the song went from what should be a minute or so long to 3 minutes of repeating the chorus, which sent this wondrous feeling among the swarm of very sweaty audience members.
After a short but sweet, and very much needed encore, the night was rounded up with ‘Be Somebody’, ‘Gimme the Sign / Saturday’, and ‘No Time for Tears’. The Enemy proving yet again that they have a very special place in Manchester and a lot of devoted fans.
In spite of the fact that we don’t know how long it will be until another tour from the band, there was nothing but smiles as the sea of singing people left the venue. I am sure that there was not one person let down by the gig. There is not a bad word you can say about the lads from Coventry other than wow. What a phenomenal show and an even better band. I hope that was not the last we see of live shows from The Enemy.
Words and Photography by Lucy Holden
