For KERB Productions first staff night out, we wanted to do something special, something monumental, to reward ourselves for all of the time, effort and money that comes with starting a company. Since this is the music industry, we thought nothing would be more fitting than an Uber into town to watch The Enemy!
On this faithful night in Liverpool, The Enemy brought their raw, no-frills indie rock show to The Dome at Grand Central Hall and proved once again why they remain such a compelling live act after more than 20 years in the business. The venue was abuzz from the moment fans began filling the floor, all ready for a night of sing-alongs, guitars and sweat-soaked nostalgia. The Dome may not be a huge arena, but its intimate size worked in the band’s favour; the crowd felt tight-knit, and every jump, shout and chord shook to the core.
From the opener to the final encore, Coventry formed band The Enemy, gave a set that balanced their classic hits with enough fresh energy to remind the masses that they are just as much a force now as they were back in 2007. They launched into a hopeful burst reminiscent of yesteryear, the crowded entranced by a sound that was raw, urgent and tight. The set featured big numbers like “Away From Here”, “Pressure” and “Had Enough” along with my personal favorite ‘’We Live and Die In These Towns’’ and their newest track “Not Going Your Way”.
As always with a gig by The Enemy, there was a genuine feeling of connection. The crowd wasn’t just singing—they were participating. With Liverpool’s inherently loud, proud gig-going culture, there were no half-measures taken by the band. The set excelled at being both visual and atmospheric, the lighting was simple but effective: not much spectacle was needed and there was just enough stage presence to keep the crowd’s energy at euphoric and their attention laser-focussed. The interaction with the crowd was intimate: the band seemed genuinely pleased to be in Liverpool, acknowledging the city’s support without slipping into awkward pleasantries. It was everything that you would desire from a band that catapulted into working class folklore at the height of the post-punk revival movement of the early 2000’s. The songs that meant so much back then mean just as much now.
Liverpool crowds don’t mess about, and the energy last night matched the band’s level.The Dome’s stagehall styling amplified the feeling to create a combustive cauldron of sound. There were moments when you could feel the floor vibrating as the audience jumped and sang in unison. No matter where you were standing in this venue, whether it was at the front row or from the mezzanine floor above, every chord hit like you were attached to the strings of their guitars.
For anyone who styled themselves at Topman in the mid 2000’s, or for those simply wanting to pay homage to a great British band of that era, this show certainly delivered. It balanced nostalgia with relevance, energy with musicianship and crowd participation with performative professionalism. All of us at KERB highly recommend catching the band when they next blitz through your home town as the sound, feel and poetic presence remain top class. The Enemy will always live and never die in the heart of its fans. Long may that continue!
Ryan White
