The six piece have become cult icons round these parts with their northern humor used to localise top tunes. Comedy plus music, what else would you want? A pie and a pint you say, that could be arranged, with a dash of Hendos for added spice. Maybe not at the O2 Academy where a Tuborg comes in at £4.20, but we can dream, right?
The Everly's Christmas shindig has become tradition since they first bonded over music, comedy, a love of everything Sheffield and beer. The venues get bigger due to demand, this is a band where the city's village-like qualities and word of mouth have been their benefactors. This year it was the O2 Academy and the two thousand tickets sold out weeks ago. It was always going to be pretty special and they pulled out all the stops.
First up, Dad Punk! No, not French electro superstars, or were they? They had the accent (kind of), and the language (ish) but Get Lucky was nowhere to be heard. It was the headliners, but not how we know them! They'd ditched their ukuleles for electric, not in a Dylan 'Judas' way. They were a 'proper' band, guitar, bass, synths, plus they'd got a drummer in tow too! It was a thirty minute set to warm up the crowd who were already merry with six slick, entertaining covers, opening with Arctic's I Bet That You Dancefloor and from then on, you knew this was gonna be a good night! You could tell they were loving it, having your first 'proper' rock star moment (not discounting Everly's, I mean, in the more traditional sense) at the wrong side of thirty must be pretty ace. Dad Punk only lasted five songs as, for the closing number in the set they became Radio Greggs and did a rendition of Creep.
It felt like the whole of Sheffield were out in force, the bar was full of thirsty customers who were encouraged to drink, the band wanted to break Reverend And The Makers bar takings, and they did it, another triumph on a night full of celebratory moments! The screens counted down five minutes preceding the return to stage for the band, the last ten seconds went through the city's postcodes, then a huge cheer irrupted, a heroes welcome for Sheffield's finest.
From Common People to Fairytale Of New York the six piece entertained the crowd for two hours and in return the crowd sung every word back, it was a full on fun. Every song was a sing-along, even when unprompted, the band couldn't have come across more appreciative.
Whether it was Pork Pie to the sound of Park Life, a more 'street' version Cee Lo Green's smash hit Fuck You or Hendos (Coldplay's Yellow...), every chorus was audience participation ready. They aren't a band who takes themselves seriously but they do take what they do seriously, they still seem flabbergasted that people want to part with their money to see them muck about on stage. For them this is just a hobby but they are better at it than many who do it full time. You don't just get daft songs with Everly Pregnant Brothers, it is all round entertainment, comedy chit chat mixed with charm and charisma, how can you not enjoy it!
Throughout the gig front man Sean spoke fondly of the crowd for their willingness to play ball. I've never witnessed a crowd reaction like it, everybody was there to have a good time and they all joined in, singing, clapping, laughing, it was unique, I've seen some of the biggest bands around and the didn't get the same reaction. When the band announced that they had two songs left, the crowd booed, they wanted them on all night. Luckily, those two songs turned into six with the party fueled encore where some of their most loved songs got an airing. No Oven, No Pie is always a treat but it's their take on Kings Of Leon's Sex On Fire which was the anthem of the night, it was deafening as the whole room sang, including the bar staff, what other band gets that reaction? I haven't witnessed anything like it before. Just brilliant. One for the road was The Pogues' Fairytale Of New York, foam snow fell from the ceiling, it was a moment, one of 2013 best moments.
If this is Christmas then lets make it a more regular thing.
