Joining the Birmingham four-piece for the second leg of their UK tour starting tonight in Leamington Spa, Big Deal are playing to a much larger capacity than they’re used to. Playing a less well-chosen set than last time the West Midlands was privy to their live show (March at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath), they do adapt their setup well as they tear through songs from their two full length records, 2011’s Lights Out and 2013’s June Gloom. The young crowd (around 70% are under 18) are sopping wet by the end of it. Start at you mean to go on.
The last time Peace played in the West Midlands was their Christmas show in December of last year during which they played to a 3,000 capacity room. Tonight the capacity is cut into thirds and even then is probably only half full. As the boys step onstage and launch into Follow Baby, the artwork to their current single Money flashes up in the background, camouflaging frontman Harry Koisser’s shock of bottled orange hair against it. It’s a bold move. It accompanies a good single. 2013’s In Love opener Higher Than The Sun is followed by California Daze, new song Lost On Me and Toxic before a Bowie Rebel Rebel segway into Lovesick. The set doesn’t really gain momentum however until Float Forever, about halfway through – it’s all lacking a bit of oomph.
Delightfully cocky as ever though, the boys are clearly still riding high on their recent success. The room is encased by bubbles floating around its walls before a turbo-charged Wraith kicks in. “We’re gonna make an attempt at another new song,” Koisser teases, coy as ever, the track’s extended instrumental and some impressively deft guitar work its highlight, at the end blending into their Bloodshake finale. At 50 minutes and with no encore, it’s a relatively short set however they whet our tastebuds deliciously for their second album due out this summer.
Photos: Andy Hughes
