BRITs Week 24 for War Child launched last night with Pop Punk/ Alt- Rock Royalty You Me At Six, playing at the intimate Concorde 2 in Brighton along with a stellar line-up of artists across the country including Ash, Keane, CMAT, Gabriels, Baby Queen, The Last Dinner Party and Aitch in venues from London to Hebden Bridge to raise money for children affected by conflict.
This unique series of gigs gives fans the opportunity to see intimate one-off performances from some of the biggest and most exciting names in music in some of the UK’s best venues. Proceeds from the shows will help to support War Child’s work. War Child’s Head of Music Rich Clarke took to the stage at the Concorde before the You Me At Six set and explained that “The quicker they reach children the more likely they are to survive and recover but we can’t do it with out you. We are partnering with You Me at Six to do something amazing together. It will take less than a minute but it could transform a life forever.” He then encouraged the crowd to get their phones out to text HOPE to 70607 to donate £10 or to make a donation here, something that we can all still do to make a difference.
Since BRITs Week’s inception in 2009, the shows have raised more than £7 million for War Child ‘All thanks to music fans’ to help children whose lives have been torn apart by war – a cause that is at the forefront of our minds right now. Tonight’s gig was You Me At Six’s third time playing for War Child and Rich Clarke said that that they were in the top echelon of War Child supporters.
Tonight’s YMAS gig comes hot on the heels of their announcement that they would be wrapping up the band after 20 years together and would be saying goodbye to their fans with a series of gigs in 24/ 25. In a statement, frontman Franceschi said,
“When we started YMAS we were kids. We only ever wanted longevity, to travel and to experience life as a group of friends. We feel like on the eve of our 20th anniversary as a band, now is a good time to call time.” Franceschi described how that milestone “has always been our finish line.”
Formed in Surrey in 2004 the band released their first album Take Off Your Colours in 2008, scooping the award for Best Single at the Kerrang Awards in 2010 with ‘Liquid Confidence’ and Best British Band at the Kerrang Awards in 2011. Of their eight studio albums, seven have reached the top ten. achieving two number one albums with Cavalier Youth in 2014 and Suckapunch’ in 2021. They have played to thousands from Reading, and T In The Park, to Isle of Wight, Download. Wembley and Alexandra Palace to name but a few.
The band posted a career highlights montage saying “This is the end. Thank you for being the heartbeat of this band. Final live shows taking place 2024/2025.” This made tonight’s intimate gig at The Concorde even more of an honour to attend. With a huge mixing desk that would have felt more at home in the 02 Arena than the Concorde, the sound was arena-worthy and further emphasised how lucky we were to see them at the same faded and much loved seafront venue that the Foo Fighters had chosen for their secret Holy Shits gig ten years ago.
The excitement was palpable. OG Emos and fans of all generations filled the venue as the air sparked with anticipation. Eyeliner, lip rings, neck and arm tattoos decorated the crowd with hardcore and weekend emos and punks all united by their love of the band; the band that had soundtracked key moments of their lives for the last 20 years. I was thrilled to be given a beautiful handmade bracelet of song lyrics by a fan in the crowd. She was sharing them with fellow fans and it brought a sense of warmth to the gig that I hadn’t felt for a long time. It felt more like an event than a gig.
Before they got on the stage Simple Minds‘ ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ gave a sense of pathos for their impending split. Then, in glorious juxtaposition to the dark punk vibes Lionel Richie sang ‘All Night Long’ from the speakers, “Well, my friends, the time has come/ To raise the roof and have some fun.” The glitterball danced on the stage slicing the darkness into fragments.
Through the stained glass windows at the top of the Concorde, a former 1800s tearoom, the arches felt like an Emo church gathering. Emos of the past present and future with lead singer Franceschi turning his soul inside out with every song with shamanic skill and authenticity, guiding the crowd through every gamut of human emotion with cathartic release, tender reflection and raw soul baring honesty. The band were tight and played instinctively together, giving moments of harmonic tension and release, commanding shades of light and dark into the room, from slow jams to frenetic mosh pits encouraging the audience to raise their voices, arms and feet of the floor in cathartic unison. There was humour, warmth and frenzy in the mosh pit. The lyrics landed with deep emotion unearthing something raw and fragile.
During the first track ‘Room to Breathe,’ the stage was bathed in intense purple hues and was full of deep cathartic emotion from all the band alike with brooding basslines, breathy verses and anthemic soaring choruses. Some were moved to tears, singing ” I’ve honestly never felt this alone ” with 600 other people.” I Need a little room to breathe.” The poetry of the lyrics was palpable above the sparkling riffs. It was a soul cleansing experience with everyone baring their hearts led by the highly skilled front man and band creating the fierce contemplative bed of sound for the rich voices to bounce off with the whole crowd raising their arms and lungs united in their fragility. They continued to wow the crowd with ‘Fresh Start Fever‘, ‘Reckless‘ and ‘Kiss and Tell,’ the buoyant pop-punk anthem raising the roof with fierce energy.
Franceschi described how the band grew up together saying, “This is about the boys in You Me At Six trying to figure out how to be a fucking band for almost two decades without killing each other but also loving each other more than a group of people ever could – Conflicted. This song is called Mixed Emotions ” He went on to sing a stunning song of emotional literacy, going against toxic masculinity tropes saying “We were just boys back then, hanging on by a thread/ Didn’t know how to tell you/ What it was I had been going through/ Oh, it’s better Left Unsaid” as the crowd reflected every word back with passion and unity. It is doing a great service to the world when dark emotions can be safely expressed through lyrics like this. You could feel the recognition and release from everyone in the crowd
The delicate and emotionally raw beauty of ballad ‘Stay with Me‘ gave a more contemplative tone to the evening. Everyone sang back over the delicate riffs feeling every note led by the lush vocals of Franceschi. He then asked who had never seen the band before and when a few people put their hands up he said, “Where have you been? You’re fucking late you silly sausages. That’s a low moment in my life. I’m not gonna lie, saying silly sausages to a bunch of adults” and the crowd erupted in laughter with a few “We love yous” shouted up from the pit. Despite their world class stadium-worthy musical skills they have a warmth and humour and humanity that keeps them close to everyone’s hearts.
He then said, “Who is seeing You Me At Six for the millionth time?” and the crowd went wild “This is our favourite thing to do getting up here to play in front of you guys so thanks again especially for such a good cause“. Then he said “Let’s cut all the lights off in this gaff.” The place was plunged into complete darkness. “I want the people of Brighton to light up their phones…. Don’t give up on yourself , don’t give up on life. Let all the lights in the room remind you that there are good people out there.” Everyone then sung to torchlight, “Just say the word and we’ll take on the world” in a moment of acoustic harmony. It’s incredible to be able to take the crowd from contemplation into raw anthems, through humour warmth and pathos with the band working in perfect harmony to cradle every note. The set was crafted like a perfect four act play.
He then said “This the end,” to which the crowd shouted “NO.” He replied, “The end of the slow jams. It’s time to reset your shit very quickly. Ladies and Gentleman. I’d like to join you in the next part of the show. It’s quite simply called the mosh pit.” Everyone whooped. ” We’re in my new fucking home town of Brighton….Am I right in saying that we think the Tories are a pack of c*nts? Then I want to see the frustration in the crowd during this song. It’s time to let off some steam. It’s time to move around This song is called ‘BITE MY TONGUE” He said as he led the frenzy. Smiling, emos from every corner of the room surged into the pit with joyful frenetic drive. Tattooed arms and legs flayed, nose rings sparkled from the pit. Every gamut of human emotion was exorcised this evening as the crowd echoed back every word of ‘No Future, Yea right,‘ ‘Lover Boy ‘ and ‘The Swarm.’ The skill of all those years of expertise was clear. This was world class
Bringing laughter into the room he dedicated the next song ‘Save it for the Bedroom’ for “Everyone who had a Myspace Account or lost their virginity to this song…like I did” as everyone sang and the floor rocked. Continuing with crowd pleasers, they played ‘Deep Cuts’ and ‘Underdog’ as the crowd swooned under the fierce darkness of the anthemic tune. There was sadness when he mentioned their split and yet he said that they wanted to play in Brighton again saying, “If we come back during our farewell tour next year will you guys come back and watch us again? Cheers – Well then it’s not really goodbye its more like a see you later” They ended the set with the stunningly visceral ‘Beautiful Way‘ as the crowd united with the band, turning their souls inside out to sing ‘We’re fucked up in a beautiful way” raising the roof, continuing the 20 year journey of triumph, raw emotion and vulnerability and meeting darkness with hope. It really was a stunning gig, a celebration, and exorcism of every dark and warm edge of the human condition where the years of expertise and craft were finely tuned. There were more than a few tears as the lights rose. It was a highly skilled and poignant gig and if you haven’t seen them yet, do it. This is a band at the peak of their powers, trailblazers and scene creators, poetic Emo OGs. They have moved with the times and created an enviable/ inspirational banquet of bangers. Their 24/25 tour is not to be missed. Find out more about their tour here:
BRITs Week 2024 for War Child (britsweekwarchild.co.uk)
The Brits Week 24 series for War Child continues tonight with Keane at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, playing songs from their renowned catalogue ahead of a massive Hopes And Fears 20th anniversary tour in the summer. They’ll be supported by indie bop master Oscar Lang.
Up-close and personal performances are still to come from Keane, Ash, Baby Queen, Aitch, Pendulum, AURORA, Gabriels, Sleaford Mods, CMAT, Venbee and The Last Dinner Party. Remaining dates below.
FEBRUARY
20th – Keane – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London (support act: Oscar Lang)
21st – Ash – The 100 Club, London (support act: Big Image)
21st – Baby Queen – Lafayette, London (support act: Lynks)
21st – Aitch – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London (support act: A1xJ1)
23rd- Pendulum – HERE at Outernet, London
26th- AURORA – Lafayette, London (support Jack Kane)
27th – Gabriels – Ronnie Scott’s, London (very special surprise support)
28th- Sleaford Mods – Scala, London
MARCH
1st- CMAT – Bush Hall, London (support act: Lorraine Bowen)
1st- Venbee – Omeara, London (support act: A Little Sound)
4th March – The Last Dinner Party – The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge (support act: Rachel Chinouriri)
Limited tickets and prize draw for the other BRITs Week shows available HERE
Photo Credit: Richard Mukuze
