The Enemy at Koko

I liked this gig far more than I expected. A bad start in that I couldn't find anyone to take up my spare ticket to join me.

But a better start was that I got there so early I got a pint in their happy hour and a place right at the front on the barrier. And I do love Koko as a venue. Small, and decorative and just a bit over the top. Here it is almost empty but with lights in full swing.

Two supports tonight. The first was a band called the Ends from Canvey Island. Loud and likeable, just not very good. Plenty of enthusiasm though. The drummer put so much in to it that he had whipped his T-shirt off after a couple of thrashes. But the lead singer basically had no voice, just an ability to shout.

But they did offer a good contrast to the Dexters. This is a band further on. They all looked older. they could play better. The lead singer may be a bit podgy and not exactly boy band material, but he could belt out numbers with a genuine singing, as opposed to shouting, voice. They obviously had a bit of a following in the crowd too. Competent.

 

Then the Enemy. Probably not the critics favourites, but I have seen them several times. They do reward a trip out. The thing is, this was a performance for the crowd, not a plug for their latest album. So most of the songs played were from their first, and only really good album, "We'll Live and Die in these Towns", a great punky set of anthems about growing up in a crap town. (Actually my one, Coventry, as this is a a Coventry band). And they didn't hesitate to play a few cover versions to add to their repertoire - Blur's "Tender" (unlikely as a bit of a ballad but neatly slowed down the pace), James' Sit Down (much more in their genre) and The Verve's "The Drugs Don't Work" (just down to Tom with his guitar).

Now first thing to say is the Tom Clarke may look like a chav urchin, but for a little bloke he has a great belting voice that he needs to get over the wall of noise this three-piece produce. We aren't talking a sweet operatic tone, but its so much better than any of the punks of my generation could call upon.

Perhaps the other remark I should make is they come across as just a bunch of idiots out to have a laugh. And I say that in an affectionate way. Because just having a laugh and enjoying oneself in a non-intellectual way can be great. What's wrong with that? Although the bouncers at the front didn't look happy when the band encouraged the audience to "come over the top", changing the odd crowd surfer every song into a tidal wave of idiots. And at the end, bass guitarist Andy Hopkins, rather than just bowing and slipping off stage, instead just crowd surfed himself, diving into the audience.

 Tom Clarke

Andy Hopkins