Birmingham was once regarded as the “workshop of the world”, it’s engineering prowess placed it at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Those days are long gone, but in an area of the city known as Digbeth, the old factories, great hulking red brick monstrosities that stand testament to the past, many of which have been repurposed as music venues. A fine example is The Night Owl, a space that drips history from every stone and with it’s retro interior makes the perfect frame for tonight’s concert.
THE LET’S GO’s at The Night Owl, Birmingham on 26.09.2025 | Photography by JJ Grant (wonderlens)
First up are the intriguingly-titled Liars At The Witch Trial, a combo from the UK’s Second City. Like many bands that operate as a two-piece, this band create a sound that is far bigger than their constituent parts. They remind me of The White Stripes insofar as their sound is boiled down into its purest form until all that’s left is a potent brew. It’s a kind of reductionism in which the band dabble, but don’t mistake their approach for simplicity; there are plenty of neat ideas and their hard rock sound swings with a tight-but-loose jazz sensibility. Drummer Adam Wakefield seems intent on nailing his kit to the floor whilst vocalist/guitarist Kate Walton delivers riffs that are razor sharp and come wrapped in a wonderful ball of distortion. As with their sound, Liars At The Witch Trial prefer a direct attack, forsaking between-song banter in favour of squeezing in as many tracks as possible, and when their songs are as good as Darker Days (Again), why wouldn’t you?
The Crystal Teardrop are a quintet who draw inspiration from the sights and sounds of the 1960’s. Their love of The Kinks, The Byrds and Shocking Blue can’t help but influence the band’s sound (and attire!) and they radiate a definite Summer Of Love aesthetic. However, don’t write the band off as some kind of retro act because they display an energy that places them firmly in the present and they hit the stage like a tornado sweeping across the venue. It’s a kind of nervous energy flowing through their veins that renders the group twitchy and angular and results in an animated, amphetamine-fuelled performance. The bass player displays some impossibly high vertical leaps, whilst the rhythm guitarist/vocalist draws every ounce of meaning from each word sung. The band’s other six-stringer is something of a musical wizard, pulling a backward masked sound from his guitar that complements the Hammond-sounding organ nicely and the result is a psychedelic soup that’s flavoured with garage and acid rock. Experimental The Crystal Teardrop might be, but they never lose sight of important things like actual songs, and they deliver a set full of rock bangers that sparkle and fizz and leave the crowd hungry for more.
If it’s one thing Japan does really well, then it is the female three-piece punk/rock ‘n’ roll bands: Yellow Machinegun, Shonen Knife, TsuShiMaMiRe…the list seems endless. In fact, Tokyo seems fairly fertile ground, having birthed bands such as the 5.6.7.8’s, and tonight’s headliners, THE LET’S GO’s. Formed by guitarist/vocalist COCO, THE LET’S GO’s have been subjected to the usual line-up changes that afflict a hard-working band, but they’ve entered a period of stability with new drummer Amechi Sparkle completing the circle. This has resulted in some well-received live shows and their reputation has preceded them tonight with word of their explosive show having reached Birmingham long before tonight’s appearance, with those who’ve attended shows earlier in the tour sending word that a hot band are on their way. It means that there’s an almost full venue as we await the band and as they descend the stairs and take to the stage, they are welcomed with a huge cheer.
THE LET’S GO’s at The Night Owl, Birmingham on 26.09.2025 | Photography by JJ Grant (wonderlens)
Their recent studio release, the digital-only covers EP, Tracks For Lucks!-SWAMP BAG SESSIONS- gives a good indication of the band’s European influences: The Who, the Clash, and The Beatles. Then factor in some American bands such as The Ramones, and when you roll them all together you have a highly flammable mixture that is THE LET’S GO’s live experience. As soon as the first note is played (and I mean the very first note), the crowd turn into a seething mass as if kindling lit by a match. As with their Japanese counterparts (Shonen Knife, 5.6.7.8.’s), there’s a life-affirming quality to THE LET’S GO’s live experience. No matter what ailments or afflictions might be troubling you in the outside world, they are all forgotten when the band plug in and play. They’re all smiles as they take us on a tour of their discography, digging deep to excavate obscure fan favourites, whilst also inserting soon-to-be-classics such as latest single, the anime-inspired Refrain and its b-side Timemachine (yes, in true punk style, it is released on lovely 7” vinyl).
UK fans have waited a long time to see THE LET’S GO’s in the flesh, and tonight their patience has been amply rewarded.
Photography: JJ Grant (wonderlens)
Many thanks to Rockin’ Dogs
