Live: Kodaline and The Mispers

The Mispers

Kodaline are one of them bands where pretty much everyone knows one of their songs, even if they don’t clock that it’s them. While at the gig, several times over my shoulder I heard “Is this on Gogglebox?” and “Is this off an advert?”, “Yeah, I think it’s NatWest” (other National banks are available.)
 

Unfortunately, the joys of public transport meant I missed the first band, but from the screams of teenage girls I heard in the queue, I’m pretty sure they were decent. Or fit. One of the two.

I did get to see the main support act, The Mispers, though, and I’m bloody glad that I did. They put on one of the best live performances I have seen in a very long time. They’re a ridiculously hard band to describe, but I’ll give it a go - they’re a five piece who have three part vocals, a violin, and immense stage presence.

Seriously, it’s like the band were injected with adrenaline before they burst on stage the way they were running about while still maintaining such a slick sound. They’ve kind of done the Nottingham journey, playing Bodega, to Rescue Rooms to Citeh, and I have to say, for a band that haven’t even got an album out yet, they had that crowd in the palm of their hands. Despite the fact I was surrounded by middle-aged women, they had me proper going for it, especially to new tune Weekend.

The band only played eight songs, but to me, it felt like the the gig was theirs. They sounded so refined, yet so raw. Super catchy hooks and possibly the most charismatic front man you’ll ever see up on stage. Granted, you had a few boring folk in the crowd, but among 2,500 people, you’re always gonna get that. I reckon it’s pretty safe to say, the band left the stage with plenty of new fans. And I wouldn’t be surprised if their next visit to Nottingham sees them headlining the venue themselves.
 

Kodaline

After what felt like a ridiculously long wait (maybe I was just impatient as I had four giants in front of me), Kodaline took to the stage. Now, I’ll point out that for the past two months I’ve been listening to the new album like crazy. In my opinion it’s one of the best pop-rock records I’ve ever heard. However, I really didn’t like their old stuff. Which meant that I was the polar opposite of everyone in the room.

They kicked off the set with my favourite song off the new album -  Ready, an upbeat, almost electro-pop number, which has some proper uplifting verses. Whilst I may have been going a bit mental to it. Not many other people were. In fact, I was a bit annoyed, cos barely anyone in the crowd was moving, at all. Even my mate said the song was “boring”. Oh dear, not off to a great start.
 

The next few tracks I was a bit lost too, but I guess they must’ve been off their debut, as the crowd went mental. In fact, when the crowd did know the track, it was one of the loudest Citeh crowds I’ve ever seen. And when vocalist Steve started talking to the crowd, the screams, oh God the screams, they were intense. Like, One Direction concert intense.

A few songs later Steve introduced latest single The One by explaining the story behind it. And it’s proper sweet. As Steve explained it was basically a wedding present for one of the bands close friends, you saw more and more hearts melt in the crowd. Arms went around each other. Kisses were shared. I tried to jokingly put my arm around my best mate. I got rejected - sad face.
 

As they came back onto stage after an inevitable encore, they smashed into last single Honest off the latest album. And something incredible happened, the people in the room actually sang along. Whilst not being the most uplifting song on the planet, it is very, very catchy - hence the almost epic choir-like support the crowd gave it.

They ended on their biggie - All I Want. Which, to say it’s their biggest song (and in terms of popularity, it is by quite a bit), it’s rather a, erm, slow one. It’s a love song. It’s a song about heartbreak. And yeah, it’s beautiful. And yeah, maybe I had a man tear..
 

However, one of the single greatest moments in live music happened during this song. Just before the last chorus. Just as the music faded out and vocalist Steve hit the tender falsetto, a brazen proper “lad” shouts one word.

“Emooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo”
 

And it filled the room nearly as loudly as those 2,500 people.

It’s safe to say next time Kodaline hit the city they’ll be playing the Arena. I suppose the big question is - are there any trolls loud enough to be heard in a venue that big?

Kodaline and The Mispers played Rock City on Monday 9 March .

Kodaline website

The Mispers website