Open To Fire, Horse & Jockey, Wednesbury, West Midlands

There’s a certain ease for musicians when they play in their hometown. The friendliness and support for a band that is considered “one of their own” is palpable. Saturday night was no exception for Wednesbury’s indie Punk band Open To Fire.

Performing a raucous mix of original material and covers those lucky to squash into the room sang loudly right alongside lead vocalist Zak Tolley.

The 5 piece kicked off their set with “Higher” which has a great riff and big chorus. A punk band covering George Michael is enough to raise a few eyebrows (including my finely groomed ones) but it was played in the spirit of the gig: to have fun, to entertain their home supporters and to bid adieu to their bassist. Their own “Take Me There” perfectly displayed the band’s strength in Tolley’s vocals, a drummer with the energy of the Energizer Bunny and the cohesiveness of the whole band. For a neo Punk band they certainly smile a lot – but they were amongst friends. “Signs” is delightfully Britpop – upbeat and catchy which is a little odd for a band that would be better classed as indie rock.

Their covers of Oasis’ “Slide Away”, The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and the Beatles’ “Ticket To Ride” got all of the sold out gig’s audience swaying (this may have been the booze) and joining in. Whilst some of their songs contain the necessary angst levels to sound like the disenfranchised youth that Punk music represents – Saturday was (dare I say it) fun.

Set list:
Higher
The Night Before
Crosses
Faith
Take Me There
Nothing
Molly’s Chambers
Signs
There’s So Much You Don’t Know
Another Reason
We Will Rise
Slide Away
Flicker
Mr. Brightside
Show Me The Way
Ticket To Ride
Burning Love

Here’s an early Christmas present from the band – their new single “I’ll Never Forget My Five And A Half Weeks At The Top”.

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Twitter: @OpenToFire
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