XFM’s Big Night Out. 10th birthday special.

This is a girls night out, there is 6 of us, for ages they had been saying I should find them a gig for us all to go to, I think they expected me to come up with take that or some soppy TV talent, sorry reality show but NO, XFM bight night was my choice.

This is what I know this is what I do. Welcome to my world.

In the lead up the girls were all saying how they were really excited and looking forward to our night out, but i knew what we were in for and I was excited and nervous all the same.  

The Maccabees 

Unfortunately the place was only half full at 9.30 when the Maccabees came on stage. So at the start the atmosphere was pretty limp and very ‘support band’, they opened with a number I didn’t know and judging by the blank faces around me, I don’t think I was alone, but I can say nothing else negative about their set. They then launched into tracks off of their album ‘colour it in’ and the crowd went mental. I don’t know what was going on at the back and I don’t know full the place was because by now I am at the front, on the mosh pit fringe. There was a small clearing to my left where a few blokes were pushing each other around but that was fine until a young blonde girl turned up and then took offence to being knocked around, some people just don’t get it. 

I received a text telling me England’s was through to the Rugby World cup Final just as the first few bars of Lachmere filled the room, this only upped the atmosphere and I found myself jumping about a little more vigorously. Lego came next. I jumped around like a looney for the whole set, one of my friends grabbed my arm and said ‘ this is sooo good’ The Maccabees played well, sounded well and They finished the set with ‘First Love’ what more could you ask for?

Maximo Park 

I was the only one of us who had seen Maximo Park before, And because of this we stood a little further back than usual. Still, I observed my rule that at Brixton Academy you should always stand forward of the balcony. And because of this we had a little more space to jump around and generally upset everyone near me! I along with ‘the girls’ danced through the whole set, a fair mixture, I cant help but get that overwhelming urge to jump a bit higher and thrust my finger higher into the air when track from the first album were being played but having said that, I am liking the second album more and more.

There is something about Paul Smiths’ voice that makes me go weak at the knees, which would probably explain the strange dancing style I have adopted of late. This is the first time I’ve felt the burn at a gig. 

The thing with Maximo Park is you know you are going to get a top night out, they ooze energy and I always leave wanting more…….a lot more, I think I may have converted a couple of the girls too.