Gig review: The Enemy at O2 Academy Leeds

Few gigs at this venue have ever been more rapturously received.
The EnemyThe Enemy
The Enemy

If it’s best to go out on a high then that’s what The Enemy are doing: one last blow-out tour, sold-out at most venues, to say goodbye to their fans.

Sunday night in Leeds saw a sell-out crowd and it showed as the atmosphere was electric from start to finish.

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A number of indie classics were played by the DJ before The Enemy came on stage and that alone threatened to send the audience into a frenzy.

When frontman Tom Clarke, bassist Andy Hopkins and drummer Liam Watts finally emerged on stage just after 9.40pm, the place exploded.

It’s been 10 years since the Coventry band got together, and nine since their debut album, We’ll Live And Die In These Towns, topped the charts.

Songs including Away From Here and Had Enough earned them an army of fans and platinum sales, and they went on to support the likes of Oasis, The Rolling Stones and Kasabian.

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Clarke had the adoring Leeds crowd in the palm of his hand as ‘Had Enough’ was followed by ‘Aggro’, ‘Happy Birthday Jane’, ’40 Days and 40 Nights’.

Introducing tracks for their final studio album It’s Automatic, the atmosphere really was breathtaking.

Lyrics of ‘This Song is About You’ constantly bounced throughout the night, exploding during the band’s performance of the track; an unforgettable moment for all present.

“You’re mad, you lot,” muses Clarke at one point.

Yorkshire, Yorkshire!” is the booming response from the crowd.

“Yeah, that’ll be it,” says Clarke.

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‘Away From Here’ goes down particularly well and a brief encore leaves an emotionally drained crowd happy, sad and wanting more.

Indeed, some of their most ardent fans could not hold back the tears at the end.

Farewell, The Enemy.