Erik Hassle. Birmingham/O2 Academy 3/18th August

by Tom Fazakerley


I rolled up to the Academy at 6.00 as stated and phoned James the tour manager, there was no answer at first but after the sound check he came outside and invited me into Academy 3.

We had a little chat about music, then after some mega tummy rumbling he decided to treat us both to a McDonalds, then we prepared for the arrival of the public...

I got to meet Erik Hassle after the gig and he seemed a really genuine guy, again had a little music chat and let him know how much I enjoyed the gig and couldn’t actually wait for the album.

(I can’t recall the name but song number 3 of the set SHOULD be really big, it could easily become a modern day anthem and fit straight in there amongst the likes of Mr Brightside etc. If it doesn’t....it is a crime!!!)

At the show me and my teaming partner sat at the back of the venue taking notes about the band and the Warm up acts. There was only maybe 30 people at the gig in total, and most of them were friends of Abi Lanigan the first act, who was fantastic....a really strong voice from such a little person. A mix of Imogen Heap, Florence of the machine and Dolores O'Riordan (ex lead singer of the Cranberries).

The second act was a guy called Dan Whitehouse who was a local ‘Brummie dude’ who was a chilled out, well thought out acoustic act with sounds of Snow Patrol front man Gary Lightbody.

Dan covered ‘Message in a box’ and did it proud...one of my favourite songs ever!!

Then Erik Hassle came on and pretty much blew the intimate sized crowd away. Everyone there thoroughly enjoyed it. If he doesn’t break through and make it....i really don’t know what’s wrong with the music industry today. Really glad to have court him at such an early stage in his career at this really intimate venue!