The Johnny Foreigner gig Sheffied

The Harley is one of those pubs that prove the old adage that good things come in small packages.  The Harley isn’t a big pub and it sit on the corner between Sheffield University and West Street so it could easily be over looked or if you aren’t used to that side of Sheffield not known of at all.  The Harley plays host to live bands and artists and chooses to wears it’s artistic heart on it’s walls.

You could say this attracts posers and hipsters but if you look for them you’ll find them anywhere…  The support was provided by Tip Yr Bartender who I sadly missed and who I initially thought were called Tim the Bartender after hearing the other bands mention them…

The other support band was Screaming Maldini a band I had heard of often but hadn’t heard play before.  As the band ascended the stage I was taken aback by the female singers hair and then by the bands bored expression in during the first song.  I watched worrying that this sort of boredom and sulky attitude to playing would typify the rest of the set.  I needn’t have worried as the songs increased in speed and passion the further they got through their set showcasing the lead singers Nick and Ginas voices.  They are a band  I look forward to seeing more of at future gigs.

After a break Johnny Foreigner came on stage to much anticipation from the packed room, something not often seen in The Harley despite it’s 200 people capacity and testament to their rising popularity.  If you aren’t already familiar with Johnny Foreigner they’re a three piece band from Birmingham who can fill a room with more sound and energy than your average five piece rock band.

Johnny Foreigners set was kicked off their fans singing along to the beginning of their first song, they then rode the momentum of this song into the rest of the set.  They thundered through songs from their newer albums and ignited a mosh pit with old favourites like Cranes and Cranes  and Cranes and Cranes as well as firmly planting the lyrics from Eyes Wide Terrified in my head for the rest of the week. I might not have been able to understand much of what the lead singer said in the few breaks between songs due to his thick brummie accent but I recommend checking them out if you get fancy a night of jumping around to some proper indie-punk-pop.

@TweetedReview Score of 5/5

Correen Robinson

http://www.theharley.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/screamingmaldini

http://johnnyforeignertheband.com/