The Bronx return to Brighton
Arriving at the venue it seems very empty as 'Axis of' from Northern Ireland take to the stage, this doesn't deter them as they play a really tight and energetic set to the handful of fans that are singing along and dancing at the front of the stage. Next a Canadian band 'Single Mothers' are up and play an energetic set picking up the pace set by 'Axis of'. By now Concorde 2 is packed and it is obvious the crowd are waiting patiently for The Bronx to take to the stage.
This is the first show on The Bronx's UK tour in support of their new album Bronx IV They take to the stage and immediately lead singer Matt starts talking to the crowd about how he has forgotten how many times he has played Brighton now, stating that he loves the place and the beach, however Brighton comes a close second to Manchester therefore he wants the crowd to change this tonight. This instantly gets the crowd cheering him along even before the band has begun to play. The band finally open the show with a track from the new album The Unholy Hand which goes down well and sets the tone for the rest of the night.
For the next hour and fifteen minutes The Bronx play a variety of songs from their first three albums such as Heart Atack America, White Guilt, They Will Kill Us All (Without Mercy) and Knifeman, switching the classics up with some new material throughout, this is somewhat surprising as this tour is in support of the new album, I had assumed that they would play a set heavy with new material. However this proves why they have a huge following; they know what the crowd want to hear and they oblige. Matt breaks the set up by talking to the crowd in his preacher-esque manner, which gives the Concorde 2 the feel of a gospel church and has everyone hanging off his every words. This is interspersed with Matt crowd surfing and singing whole songs whilst positioned in the crowd.
Overall it is an excellent performance from The Bronx who played a really good mix of tracks and setting a precedent as to what is to come from the rest of 'The Bronx IV' UK tour which runs for the rest of February. The only thing that could have made the show better was if the Mariachi El Bronx had opened the show!