Enter Shikari put on energetic and passionate showing for first of three Wolverhampton gigs

Tucked away down a Wolverhampton street, behind a retail park and away from the busy city streets is the iconic music venue KK’s Steel Mill. On Friday night, the place was rocked to its core by Enter Shikari- a band who needed little introduction to anyone even remotely familiar to the British rock scene.

The gig was part of a residency tour the band has embarked on. The first of three shows in this venue steeped in history was hot, sweaty and adrenaline pumping.

Well supported by Blackout Problems and NoahFinnce, Shikari entered the stage to a crowd warmed up and ready to go. The close proximity of the stage to the crowd is one which we don’t tend to see bands like Enter Shikari play too often, which added to the occasion.

A 19 song set was launched by ‘(pls) set me on fire’, with the band bursting on stage to bright lights and several blasts of a confetti cannon. From being at the front, taking part in the pit moved me and hundreds of others from pillar to post. Did we mind? I very much doubt it.

Powerful renditions of ‘Juggernaut’, ‘Zzzonked’ and ‘Undercover Agents’ flooded the air of KK’s Steel Mill, which by this point was heavy with good vibes and sweat- mainly sweat, but you can paint a picture.

We were then treated to a ‘Quick Fire’ round which was, as frontman Rou Reynolds explained, four songs in eight minutes. Short and sharp renditions of ‘Havoc B’, ‘Bull’, ‘The Last Garrison’, and ‘Sorry, You’re Not A Winner’, followed in an intense and mind blowing spell of rock music.

The round was taken down a gear with ‘Live Outside’ before Shikari vanished from the stage. It was a chance for us in the crowd to regroup for the likely crazy encore that was to come.

This encore came in good time, and saw the return of the confetti cannon. ‘The Dreamer’s Hotel’ was the last we’d hear of Shikari in the night- but it was an incredible way to end a raw and lung-busting performance from this seasoned group.

Enter Shikari keep showing just why they are a band famous around the world. Their full-on, hearts on sleeves performance in Wolverhampton is the kind of show we’ve seen from them for years- and will continue to see for years to come.

If you missed the gig but feel you don’t want to be disappointed again, have no fear. Enter Shikari play again in Wolverhampton on Thursday March 16 and Saturday April 15. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.