I kind of wish The Enemy didn't play the festival because I'd rather see them for the first time in a proper venue. The UK upstarts, who are billed as The Enemy UK, play a working-class brand of British Rock, similar to The Automatic and The Cribs. They look scruffy and unpolished, which adds gravity to their DIY indie rock. Wellllllll, not so indie. They got a big fat record deal in the U.S. with Warner Bros., so We'll Live and Die In These Towns will finally get a proper release this week.
Most people will take to their aggressive, in-your-face rock music, but I think lyrically they are strong. The title track is like Billy Bragg covering The Jam. I can see them becoming a U.K. stadium favorite, while still being grounded in lower-middle class ideals.
While I got to see them under less-than ideal conditions, I definitely want to watch them again when they have gained a larger fan base. It does look that they take a lot of pride in their music, no matter where they play.
Fair review and very honest - hopefully you will get to see The Enemy (UK) perform at larger venues with more fans.
I've seen them about 20 times in the UK and when there are thousands of fans joining in, the atmosphere is totally electric.
The Enemy know how to deliver and hopefully America will embrace them over time.
(Hope you don't mind if I use your review on the website).
Posted by: robmacca | August 05, 2008 at 12:32 PM