I was surprised to realise that this was The Hoosiers first visit to Birmingham in a dozen years so quite understandably the venue was buzzing with anticipation as to their arrival and full to overflowing. The quartet arrive on stage to rapturous applause and head straight into the thumping `Sleeping with the Light On` which explores vulnerability, emotional self-protection, and the fear of getting hurt in a relationship. The rhythmic `Lonely Together` from the bands new release `Compassion` their sixth studio album follows along with the passionate and emotive `Making A Monster` with it`s delightful trumpet hues.
The uplifting energy continues with the dynamic `Choices` before the anxiety ridden `Worried About Ray` almost sends this crowd into meltdown. The pace slows down without losing the intensity as `Man From The Magazine` allows a little respite before everybody`s singing along to `Pink Pony Club` which I hadn`t realised was a cover. There`s a few further cuts from the latest release with the almost funky `Automatic Glow`, the dreamily melodic `Multiply` and bubbly animated `So High`. The angular `Cops and Robbers` with an excerpt of Gnarles Barkley`s `Crazy` opening and closing the track is sandwiched Inbetween.
The final stretch has another couple of songs from `Compassion` with the pensive `Permission to Rest` and energetic `Jigsaw Heart` before closing the show with a reworked version of Billy Joel`s `We Didn`t Start The Fire`.
The quartet return for an encore which begins with the reflective `Compassion` and ballad like `Don`t Hang Your Head` before the endearing and engaging `Goodbye Mr A` allows a final serge of exhilaration and excitement from this enthusiastic crowd. Lionel Richie`s `All Night Long` is pumped through the pa as the band take their bows, sing along and wave to the audience as the house lights go on and we all head out.
The Hoosiers are a band that create melodic almost perfect pop songs that are overflowing with lyrics saturated with warmth, wit and humour and I have to admit that they manage to share all this and more during their live show.
Frontman Irwin Sparkes has a charismatic stage presence and really connected and engaged with the audience with a couple of excursions into the heart of the faithful. The night was full of songs old and new and although there`s only a couple of dates remaining Irwin confirmed that he and Alan Sharland`s debut album `Trick To Life` has it`s twentieth anniversary next year and the band aim to tour to celebrate its release.
Tonight`s performance, i`m sure, will go somewhere to ensuring that if not all but many of these shows ought to be sold out.
