Live Review: The Twang - O2 Academy 2, Liverpool 13/12/2024
The Twang stunned Liverpool’s O2 Academy with a performance of hit album ‘Jewellery Quarter’ in full.
The Birmingham outfit have an immense catalogue behind them, having been on the scene for quite some time. It really is testament to their quality and likeability that fans are still packing out venues to hear all the very best work of The Twang.
The group took on Liverpool’s O2 Academy 2 for a performance of their now fifteen-year-old album: ‘Jewellery Quarter’. To say this record has stood the test of time would be a huge understatement. Not only has the body of music continued to be played by thousands, fans are still elated at the thought of packing out venues all over the country to hear it.
The evening, as a whole, was a fantastic showcase of talent.
Opening act for the night were Liverpool outfit Juvenal. Their set was the perfect opener for the evening. Their music was gripping throughout, with some songs of real quality on display. One which really pricked the ears of the crowd was ‘Find A Way’, which boasted a catchy riff and some stunning vocals.
It’s safe to say that Juvenal will be a group to keep an eye on…
The second support act of the night were the increasingly popular group: Pastel, a band whose quality, swagger and all-round character landed them a support slot for one of Liam Gallagher’s iconic Knebworth 2022 shows.
The band have certainly utilised the experience of playing huge shows such as Knebworth to create rich and full sounds wherever they go. Their support slot for The Twang was an immensely tight affair, with the band operating as a strong unit.
Pastel oozed class, attitude and charisma. Their heavy, almost hypnotic guitar riffs combined with jangly, acoustic chords to create a dream-like sound that was topped off with some brilliant lyricism. Pastel are on the rise, and the Liverpool crowd was more than impressed with their set.
It was then time for the main event.
When the ‘Jewellery Quarter’ fifteenth anniversary tour was announced, The Twang insisted that they would be playing the record in its entirety, as well as some of the other big hitters.
The group went above and beyond this.
The set was an incredible celebration of a loved body of work. It was great to see the Liverpool crowd belting out every word to each of the songs. Front man Phil Etheridge seemed to be relishing the night, showing off a big grin as the crowd came together to embrace the band.
One of the big moments came early on, as The Twang performed ‘Barney Rubble’. It went down so well that as it came to a close, the band kicked straight back in and performed it from the top. Liverpool went wild and sang it that extra level louder the second time around.
This was evidence of just how well The Twang can work a crowd. They are true professionals who know and love their craft, and it showed all through the set.
Every track from ‘Jewellery Quarter’ was performed with incredible quality, and the band vacated the stage at the closure of ‘Another Bus’. The crowd roared, before chanting- in unison- for more.
And they got exactly what they wanted.
The band returned for a fully-loaded encore, including some of the very biggest hits: ‘Either Way’, ‘Two Lovers’ and ‘Wide Awake’. Yet again, ;Liverpool belted out every single word.
There was also a great moment as The Twang played fan favourite ‘You On My Shoulders’, which saw many of the crowd get up on their loved ones’ shoulders to fully immerse themselves in the music. It was beautiful.
All in all, The Twang’s show at Liverpool’s O2 Academy 2 was a beautiful celebration of a fantastic album. As well as celebrating the album, the night showed unity, between all who were there. Everyone came together to celebrate a band who mean so much to so many people.
The Twang haven’t lost their touch. They remain one of the best groups around, and their Liverpool show was undeniable evidence of this.
Words by Matthew Caslin
