Sports Team excel at Birmingham’s The Castle and Falcon

The Castle and Falcon, 15 November 2024

On a cold, dreary walk down the unassuming backstreets of Birmingham, on a street populated by too many kebab shops to count, nobody could have guessed that one of Britain’s leading indie bands was about to perform.

The tour comes at a curious point in Sports Team’s career. On the back of a hugely successful US tour, and a few months before the release of their highly-anticipated third album Boys These Days, the band’s future seems positively blinding with promise.

Nestled away, almost unnoticeable, is The Castle and Falcon pub, one of Birmingham’s finest independent music venues. Even on entry, few clues suggest what the night ahead will hold. Aside from the stocked merch table, and a few people dotted around the pub wearing various Sports Team branded clothing, the venue remains deeply unassuming. Besides a large photo collage of previous performers, including Sam Fender and Mahalia, a glimpse of the stage through the bar is the first indication of the utter magic about to be cast.

It is immediately obvious that every person in the room is utterly in love with [ Sports Team ]

Performing to a relatively small crowd of less than forty people, the first support act, Welly, were given a tough task, but they proved themselves more than capable. With a winning combination of catchy lyrics about mundane aspects of British life, and the complete magnetism of all the band members, Welly set the tone for the whole night with remarkable ease. Despite being a band in their infancy, Welly’s powerful stage presence and admirable crowd engagement – always a challenge for support acts – suggest they are a future indie powerhouse. It is clear why Sports Team chose them to support for the first section of the tour: carrying similar raucous energy, commentary on suburbia and witty lyricism, Welly are the perfect gateway to the utter chaos of Sports Team.

Following the madness and spirited energy of Welly, the second support, Mary in the Junkyard, provided a well-earned and much-needed breath of calm in the proceedings. Their experimental use of four basic instruments – guitar, drums, bass, and violin – gives them a thoroughly unique and exciting sound, and, with time to master their musical ambition and distinctive style, they are sure to become regulars on the tour circuit. The peace brought by Mary in the Junkyard set a thrilling contrast to Sports Team, accentuating their beautiful madness and building expectations even higher.

The long break between the support acts and Sports Team builds the audience’s excitement and anticipation to extraordinary levels. The small, bunker-like room is rammed, and every person present is buzzing with exhilaration. As the band walk on the stage, each member is greeted with raucous applause and cheers. From the very first chords of ‘The Drop’, the room is set alight. A fan favourite from their second album, Gulp!, it is the perfect first taste of madness that is about to be experienced. It is immediately obvious that every person in the room is utterly in love with the band: almost everyone is belting all the words, jumping and dancing with each other without care. This complete entrancement continues throughout every song played, regardless of speed. Mosh pits to slower songs, such as ‘Lander’ and ‘Happy (God’s Own Country)’, testify to the fans’ uncompromising enthusiasm and mania.

The diverse selection of songs demonstrates both the broadness of the band’s musical talents and the audience’s love

The band members regularly share looks of intense pride and joy in seeing their fans’ responses to their music. Lead singer Alex Rice spends a large portion of the set draped in a fan’s rainbow pride flag, prompting even louder cheers of approval. These iconic moments demonstrate the undying love reciprocated between the band and their fans, which undoubtedly manifested in the energy both committed to the night.

Performing live just a few days after a long US tour meant that Sports Team’s fatigue could be sensed, but the adoring audience more than pulled through, bringing energy for the band to make up for some more tired moments, propelling the performance into the stratosphere. Despite perhaps lacking the boundless energy of other Sports Team performances, the band play in absolute love for their fans, performing a knockout setlist with songs spanning the breadth of their career. The diverse selection of songs demonstrates both the broadness of the band’s musical talents and the audience’s love. Whether it is the quiet respect and attention given to unreleased ballad-like song ‘Maybe When We’re Thirty’, or the mania whipped up by Sports Team’s iconic tracks ‘Here’s The Thing’, ‘M5’, or ‘Fishing’, the audience demonstrates unparalleled love and appreciation.

As the final song comes to a close, alongside raucous applause and cheers of appreciation, Robbie Williams’ iconic song ‘Angels’ – a staple of any Sports Team gig – provides the soundtrack to the audience’s slow and unwilling departure. There is a residual buzz in the dark room, with exclamations of disbelief and admiration between friends filling the air. The overwhelming sense of awe at the artistry just witnessed follows through to the bar, and lingers long after the music stops.

If the band’s new album Boys These Days is as thrilling as this tour promises, it is destined to be an absolute sensation

Sports Team proudly pronounce their uniquely close relationship with their fans, and this certainly came true in Birmingham. After their thrilling performance brimming with love, the band members slowly filter through to the pub to meet with their adoring audience. Between the obligatory photos, conversations demonstrate the genuine connection between the musicians and their fans. Sports Team’s humility and appreciation truly came to the fore in this magical moment. Although tainted with a strong sense of surrealism, the band’s humble presence proves their well-deserved status as one of the most exciting indie bands at the moment.

The sense of magic follows for the next few hours, as complete disbelief at what was just experienced flooded all memories. The performance has a strong aura of being a future classic gig, with the feeling that “you had to be there”, thanks to the combination of the ultra-intimate venue, Sports Team’s irresistible magnetism, the unparalleled fanaticism of the audience, and completed by meeting the band in the bar afterwards. If the band’s new album Boys These Days is as thrilling as this tour promises, it is destined to be an absolute sensation.

★★★★★