Without doubt, 2013 has been the year of Rudimental on Planet Pop: a second number one single with “Waiting All Night”; a number one debut album with Home, hugely successful festival appearances, and plenty of TV coverage. It’s no wonder that the youth of the West Midlands (and some of their mums and dads, by the look of things) turned up to see the band in their droves at this O2 Academy show that’s been sold out for weeks. “Eagerly anticipated” doesn’t cover it.
Things kicked off early with plenty of warm-up action from Joel Compass and then Shakka’s laid-back grooves and finally DJ Gorgon City’s more lively beats, which even included a blast of the ever-green Wildchild/Fatboy Slim corker “Renegade Master”. All this kept everyone on their feet, nodding and bopping, ready for the main event. Good job too, because it took an age to get to the bar.
When the trumpets come out, you know that you’re going to have a good time
When Rudimental’s Piers Agget, Kesi Dryden, Amir Amor, DJ Locksmith and a host of their mates took to the stage, however, the whole place went completely bonkers, non-stop, until they finally dragged themselves away an hour and a half later, with sweat pouring down the walls and a whole cloud system floating around just below the roof. During that time, we had flavours of funk, deep house, disco, old-time Otis Redding-like soul, R‘n’B and drum and bass. All smothered in lashings of trumpet – and when the trumpets come out, you know that you’re going to have a good time.
The night featured pretty much the whole Home album, with particularly powerful versions of “Feel the Love”, “Baby” and “Free”. The crowd bounced, thrust their hands in the air, climbed on each others shoulders and used enough energy to power a city. However, as things reached their climax Rudimental launched into storming versions of The Fugees’ “Ready or Not” and Bob Marley’s “Sun Is Shining”, which pushed the crowd to a whole new level of frenzy. Not to be outdone by mere cover versions though, they finished off with a spectacular “Waiting All Night”, which featured the charismatic, huge-voiced Becky Hill, who could easily challenge the likes of Katy B, should she decide to make a proper fist of going solo.
It was a show which could have gone on all night and no one would have complained. However, all things must come to an end and we were finally ejected onto the streets of Birmingham, a sea of enthused grins. A bostin’ evening, as we say around these parts.
Watch Rudimental play "Feel The Love" live at Lovebox 2013
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