Black Wire, Birmingham Bar Academy

It’s easy to fall into the trap of instantly hating any band with a certain amount of hype surrounding them. We’ve seen it all before - they’ll come on stage, play some sprog-friendly ‘art punk’ then retreat backstage to re-align their bangs with their carefully crafted mullets. So why did we end up in a venue too far away from the real entertainment at Spearmint Rhino to catch ‘the next big thing’? Because it’s Black Wire, that’s why.

Any preconceptions are shattered as the tired looking trio take to the stage. Like Guy McKnight on poppers experimenting with ‘My First Keyboard’s Drum Settings’ mixing the best of The Faint, Radio 4 and the New York Dolls, Black Wire fuck things up like Collymore in a black Mercedes. Not letting the subdued crowd phase them, Black Wire have all the makings for sleazecore stardom with their infectious rip-it-up tunes instantly making them stand apart from all the Franzaptures. Highlights ‘God of Traffic’ and current release ‘Attack! Attack! Attack!’ are executed with such perfection that the girls of Spearmint Rhino are quickly forgotten - Black Wire can dance better than them anyway.

Call them ‘electro-punk’, call them ‘fashioncore’, call them whatever the fuck you want, it’s obvious to all in attendance that they’ll be called ‘Best British Band’ at next year’s awards ceremonies. Tonight Black Wire prove that the Leeds music scene is more exciting than the rest of the country’s combined. Watch out Kaiser Chiefs, Black Wire are well on their way to stealing your crown of DIY’s favourite band…