LIVE REVIEW | THE ENEMY | LEEDS O2 ACADEMY 03/10/2024 by Lucy Holden

The Enemy are back, and if last night’s sweat-drenched show at Leeds O2 Academy is anything to go by, they’re still the kings of no-nonsense, hard-hitting indie rock. This was the first gig of their ‘Indie Till I Die’ tour – a warm-up show ahead of six dates across the UK – and what a warm-up it was. From the minute they hit the stage, it was like they’d never been away, despite it being their first gig in nearly a year. Rust? Forget about it. These lads don’t do rusty.

Opening with ‘Aggro‘ and ‘Pressure‘, The Enemy threw themselves headfirst into the night, and the crowd – mostly 40-something blokes who’ve been following the band since their 2000s heyday – responded with total chaos. And in the middle of that chaos? A kid, no older than 10, right on the barrier with his parents, belting out every word like he’d been there from the start. Bassist Andy Hopkins made sure the little lad had a night to remember, giving him huge smiles and making him feel like part of the crew. It was a pure, wholesome moment that somehow fit perfectly in the middle of all the carnage.

The setlist was a blast from the past, with tracks from their iconic number 1 album debut We’ll Live and Die in These Towns taking centre stage. ‘Had Enough‘ and ‘You’re Not Alone‘ hit just as hard as they did 17 years ago, but it was the title track ‘We’ll Live and Die in These Towns’ that sent the energy levels off the charts. Tom Clarke’s vocals were on fire, cutting through the wall of noise like it was 2007 all over again. The crowd were nothing short of thriving in this atmosphere.

At one point, they threw in a cheeky snippet of Ghost Town by The Specials during ‘40 Days & 40 Nights‘, a little nod to their Coventry roots that went down a treat. But it wasn’t just about the music – there was that classic Enemy banter too. Clarke gave a massive shout out to Andy’s parents, who never miss a Leeds gig, while the crowd chanted their hearts out between songs, taking over with the infamous line, “Now, this song, is about, is about, is about you!” Clarke stopped in his tracks, clearly moved, and let the fans do their thing. It was one of those magical, hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck moments where you realise how much this band means to people.

Fashion-wise, the ‘Indie Till I Die’ tour title couldn’t be more fitting. The crowd was a living advertisement for brands like Stone Island, Adidas, Pretty Green, and Fred Perry, with nostalgia dripping from every corner. And refreshingly, barely a phone in sight. Everyone was fully immersed in the music, soaking up every riff and singing every lyric like their lives depended on it.

The main set wrapped up with ‘Happy Birthday Jane‘, but of course, The Enemy weren’t done. They came back out for an encore that included ‘Be Somebody‘, ‘Gimme the Sign‘, and ‘No Time for Tears‘.

The energy just wouldn’t quit, and neither did the band. They wrapped it all up with a reprise of ‘This Song‘, reminding everyone exactly why they’ve stuck around this long. The connection between The Enemy and their fans is real – no gimmicks, just pure love for the music and for each other.

It wasn’t just a gig; it was a full-blown celebration of everything The Enemy stands for. Seventeen years since their debut album went straight to number one, and We’ll Live and Die in These Towns still hits like a freight train. It’s got that raw, timeless energy that makes you feel like you’re hearing it for the first time, whether you were at their first ever gig or you’re 10 years old singing your heart out on the barrier.

This show was a reminder that The Enemy are still one of the UK’s best live bands, and judging by the crowd’s reaction, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. This was just the start of the tour, and if you haven’t got tickets yet, you might want to sort that out – because if this was anything to go by, you’re in for one hell of a night.

The ‘Indie Till I Die‘ co-headline tour with The Subways plus support from The Holloways continues this weekend and next. Remaining tickets can be found HERE!

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Lucy Holden

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