Image sourged from Google
After being stuck in abnormal traffic, breaking red lights
and taking every back route in Birmingham city centre we finally managed to get
to the The Ballroom Birmingham for the show in one
piece only to have been told to stand in the wrong queue and then re-queue for
another half hour or more to collect our bloody tickets! But who was counting
time one such a cold and bitter winter night?
Once we got inside the venue we headed straight for the
stage front area and as a 5”1 person I would like to suggest that we small
people get a movement going that forbids tall suckers from standing anywhere
near the front of even the middle of a crowd at a concert, because what happens
is when you’re my size or even smaller you spend most of the night being able
to see jack shit!
The crowd was a great mix of people and I have to say that
it was refreshing to go out to such a huge event in my home town and not see a soul
that I know! There is just something that I love about meeting new people. But don’t
get me wrong there were a good few moody bitches that clearly did not
understand the ‘You Move You Lose’ gig rule. If you choose to leave your spot
for whatever reason, please do not return to that spot with a pissy attitude because
it is no longer vacant! And also if you can’t stand people bumping into you at
gigs because they are dancing and having a great time… know that you’re boring
arse can always stay at home.
The show was hosted by 1Xtras’very own Twin B and Mista Jam and
was broadcast to a live national and international audience. In between acts DJ’s
got the crowd going although I do have to say that the sound was
very poor as we could all hear each other’s conversations which is never a good
sign, like my friend said “I need to feel the base through my body and my ribs
man!” I’ve gotta love a base line junkie, because a good bit of base can make
everything better.
Miguel opened the show which a great and energetic
performance performing only a few songs but really won the crowd over or should
I say the ladies with his hits ‘All I want Is You’ and
my favourite track of the moment ‘Adorn’. I would’ve
liked to have seen more of Miguel but it was a nice little taster of what his
own live show would be like.
Image sourced from Google
Second onstage were the cute little Disclosure
brothers and I am ashamed to say that this is first time I had heard of these
boys and I was pissed at myself for not know who they were beforehand.
They absolutely killed their set and I loved every bit of
it, the fact that the section of the crowd that my friend and I were stood in
were really bubblin’ off their vibe made the boys performance all the more
enjoyable. Their vibe was so sweet that some dude in a snapback fully vibed his
whole way through the crowd, from front to back and side to side getting down
with whoever dared to join him on his skanking mission. Legend!
But the highlight of their performance had to have been
their last track ‘Latch’ featuring Sam Smith! Amazing…
I could’ve raved to these boys all night long.
Image sourced from Google
And finally after a little bit of Bashment
and an appearance from DJ Trevor Nelson it was
time for the last artist of the night and the star of the show Miss Alicia Keys to wow the crowd.
Now I have to say that I do love Aliciakeys but I have always believed that although the lady can sing, and she
really can, I don’t feel that her voice is ridiculously spectacular… Don’t shoot
me I’m just being honest, after all this is my blog and I make it my mission to
always be honest despite who I might offend.
But even though I do not think that vocally she is the
greatest I have always been drawn to A Keys because
she has such an amazing energy.
If you have not seen this lady live I would highly recommend
it, her energy is amazingly humble, she greeted and interacted with the crowd like
a true lady and worked the stage which such confidence and grace.
Singing hits from her first album ‘Songsin Minor’ which was really the album that really opened doors for Alicia
Keys as an Artist, Musician and a Songwriter and it had been a while since I
had heard ‘Fallin’ but it sounded as good as it
did when I first heard it as a school girl in my bottle green uniform.
Image sourced from Google
There were so many songs that Miss Keys sang that had me
smiling as they brought back good memories and great feelings, but there were
also other songs that she performed that I didn’t really care for such as her
new track ‘Girl On Fire’. I feel really bad for not liking this song, but I just cannot do
it because I know that A Keys can do better. Don’t get me wrong, I get the
message and I love the message, but I just don’t like the song.
The highlight of her performance for me, had to have been without
a doubt the last song of the night ‘If I Ain’t Go You’. This song does something me like I have never
experienced before! To say I love this song has to be an understatement… It
brought tears to my eyes for mascaras sake! For me, the show could not have
ended in a more perfect way.
So, ‘after the show there’s the after party…’ and me and my
menina rocked on over to the Rainbow to find a
really fun and cool crowd ready to party and mingle. DJTargets’ set was on point and had me raving well good, after that it was
a bit hit and miss, but I’m sure that the night picked back up after that as we
didn’t stay too long. But the organisers of the event or should I say the cool
1xtra Family really did put on a great event, at the after Party there was not attitude
no rudeness but just a really nice vibe for people that really like a bit of
Base in their lives.
Over all it was a great night and for free… Lord knows you
can’t get much better than that these days.
Well done 1Xtra! And cheers for great night.
Love Sara (A little
lady who loves 1Xtra). xxxx
