NME Awards Tour Review

NME Awards Tour - O2 Academy, Newcastle (21/2/15)

Callum Thornhill

After the Amazing Snakeheads dropped out, the NME Awards Tour added the Wytches to the already impressive line up.

Sadly, due to travel issues, I missed the Wytches' performance in Newcastle and only managed to get there halfway through Slaves' set. All I can say about them is that they're not my cup of tea.

That's just me, the rest of the O2 Academy were loving Slaves, throwing themselves around to every note the band played. It was magical to see such energy for a band that weren't even headlining the event.

I can tell just by the sheer admiration of Slaves that they'll be a massive act in years to come and I'll be glad to have seen them in 2015.

Also on the bill were Fat White Family. Typically bringing their loud instrumentation and bizarre stage presence to Newcastle, the plan for the NME Awards tour this year was clearly to get the loudest and most atmospheric bands as possible.

Admittedly, I should've done my homework and learned a few Fat White Family songs before seeing them. Nonetheless, still an amazing act and exceeded my expectations.

The main reason I (and presumably many others) attended the NME Awards tour was to see Palma Violets.

After catching them in Stockton on Tees (I still don't know why they played there) and at Leeds Festival, it is clear that these are the best live band I've ever had the pleasure of seeing.

Opening with the magnificent Rattlesnake Highway, Palma Violets were certainly playing for the crowd rather than to showcase their upcoming album.

Plenty more from debut album 180 were played and the packed Newcastle crowd were loving every second. How could they not though? Rock n roll instrumentation combined with lyrical wit - a true world class band.

Palma Violets rattled through fan favourites We Found Love, Last Of The Summer Wine and Tom The Drum. Strangely though, latest release Danger In The Club was left off the set list. Considering it is less than a week old, you'd expect it to be blasted over PA systems up and down the country.

The set was finished off with the euphoric 14, the audience holding each other up, serenading one another and recovering from one hell of a battering after the Wytches, Slaves, Fat White Family and Palma Violets.

It certainly isn't a Palma Violets gig without the inclusion of Best Of Friends. As always being played with Chicken Dippers, these two tracks finished off a mind blowing evening at the NME Awards in Newcastle's O2 Academy.

If the NME Awards Tour is coming to your local venue soon I strongly advise getting yourself there.

Hopefully all four bands will be back on the road soon!