It was a typical Wednesday night, shops shut, streets quiet. On the walk across the bridge, I worried that this might be a quiet gig for “The Clause”, who were playing at the waterfront that night.

My anxieties were heightened when I arrived at the venue’s doors, no queue, no sound of people. What was going on? Upon entering through the club’s doors, I was surprised to find myself in a bustling atmosphere. It wasn’t that no one was there, but that I was late to the party. 

The murmurs of the crowd became silent when Noel Gallagher’s opening chords to Morning Glory echoed through the speakers. An epic warm-up for the night ahead. From start to finish, the singer was joined by the crowd, who knew most of the words to every song. The Birmingham band clearly had a reach. 

Perhaps, this was because many had seen the band before. The Clause played at the LCR only a few months ago, supporting the Ks – a gig I was fortunate enough to see. The band’s overall sound was rhythmically energetic, guided by the bassist, Jonny Fyffe), guitarist, Liam Deakin, and drummer, Niall Fennel.

The energy was epitomised in their single, In My Element, which had the band, fresh with energy, dancing from one side of the stage to the other. They had a charm that easily caught the eye, an excitable, youthful drive the made you want to cheer them on. 

The single, Fake It, followed suit, a song with strong harmonies, emphasising the band’s strong chemistry – three of the members having been friends since the age of 12.

When the band stepped away from their heavy indie influences, they also had the musical versatility to play slower acoustic songs like Where Are You Now? It was here that the singer, Peace Macca, was able to show off his vocal talent, performing alone for most of the song.

The Waterfront’s intimate hospitality provided an environment where the band felt close and on enough of a pedestal that everyone could see. Similarly, the audience was very supportive of the band and the venue that was hosting them. Each song was followed by appreciative applause, while many of the audience balanced their pints – bought from the well-staffed bar.

My experience on that rainy Wednesday night was that Indie music is thriving, and venues like The Waterfront still provide a bustling and exciting atmosphere away from quiet weekday nights.

Image credit: George Marsden