Music Live – Birmingham NEC Review

Written by Ryan Atkinson | Wednesday, November 28, 2007 |

Britain’s most successful music making convention ‘Music Live’ returned to Birmingham NEC this year in early November. The Dish went to see what all the fuss was about.

Arriving at the NEC upsettingly early on a cold November morning, I proceeded to enjoy a day of drooling at kit no-one can afford, idolising rock legends in spontaneous attendance, blagging my way in to free instrumental workshops, and if time allowed, going to see a few bands to will away the hours of freebee collecting and over keen Gibson salesmen.

Walking into the exhibition hall is much like walking into a brick wall- made of noise that is. Just about every instrument in current existence is audible from every corner of the huge warehouse. With Friday being education day at the event, there was no shortage of enthusiastic and at some times annoyingly hyper small children to enjoy the musical delights.

First off on my list was the buskers stage, dead ahead. After standing around for 10 minutes witnessing a seemingly unorganised stage manager run around like a headless chicken trying to plug leads in here and there, my wait was confirmed as worth it. What at first appears to be 15 year old indie kid bounding on to stage with guitar in hand does hold certain preconceptions and doubts, but I was pleasantly surprised at this unknown artist. Melodic vocals with a gritty surprisingly old sounding voice, and powerful heartfelt riffs strumming their way to my ears, I have no idea who this guy was but I’ll certainly be keeping my ears open on the airwaves to catch some more of it in the future.

After standing around for a short while to listen, I move on through the crowd via a number of stands selling very nice looking, unfortunately priced synths, to make my way to the Live Stage Hall. In the photo pit waiting for the highlight of the day to take to the stage, I have the misfortune of catching the end of Jodi Lawrence’s set. I don’t know whether it was something I was missing, but aside from the woman herself and her great voice and obvious stage presence, It was a poor show. Her band just didn’t look like they wanted to be there.

After 5 minutes of the end of their set, the hype in the hall was beginning to build. Why I hear you ask. Well quite simply, the return of one of the biggest heavy metal legends of our time – all 21 of them.

This Is Menace take to the stage in fury, passion, painful sounding vocal chords, and lots of beer. It’s a show not to be missed. Having attended 2 years previously to see their first performance at the event, they impressed even more. Nice and warmed up from their mid swing tour, the countless singers dart about the stage in a frenzy unlike that of any other band I have seen. They are loving it, they love performing, spit sweat and tears, banter with the crowd, and the audience love it too. Dancing and screaming along, the band are forced on a number of occasions to ask them kindly to calm down. Soon to be followed by a snide ‘Fuck it, go wild, that’s just security talking. We cant see enough blood’ or something along those lines.

30 sweat soaked minutes later I head back into the main hall to stroll around and see (sometimes blag my way in to) the many music workshops. Everything from a professional drum clinic to a 32 channel mixing desk have a go, Music live is as much a convention for the producer as it is the artist; perhaps even more so.

A few hours of bands, workshops, over priced food, and freebees later, I head home. Passing the few thousand smiling school children and university student faces on my way to the train, I leave in the knowledge that Music Live is and will continue to be a huge success with professionals and amateurs alike.

• Music Live Returns To The NEC
• Clothes Show Live Celebrates its 20th Anniversary
• The Winehouse Show: Tour Manager Quits

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