Live Review: Soft Play create chaos with explosive set at Birmingham’s O2 Institute

Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Soft Play delivered a raucous 19-song career-spanning set at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday night.

The duo from Royal Tunbridge Wells are early into their UK tour for their new album Heavy Jelly, coming off the back of a successful summer playing festivals, which looked insane.

Soft Play got back together in 2023 after a hiatus in 2019 due to personal circumstances and after a name change - they released their comeback album earlier this year.

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Wonk Unit kicked things off in style before Panic Shack delivered a raw, high-energy set that blew the roof off an already rammed Institute.

Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

The lead singer’s rage-fuelled vocals, backed by tight, punk-infused riffs, set the perfect tone for the night.

If you haven’t checked them out yet, I’d recommend giving ‘Do Something’ a listen - heavy live and definitely stood out.

Then came Soft Play, diving straight in with ‘All Things’ from their new album, followed by a personal favourite, Mirror Muscles’.

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Isaac, looking ripped, smashed the drums like a madman, screaming into the mic while Laurie thrashed around the stage.

Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

The room was rammed, energy feral—tops off, tattoos out and the crowd was all in.

The set was briefly paused (for the first time) to help a fan on the barrier when things got a bit too raucous, with both members of Soft Play at the front of the stage to assist.

Laurie explained it was probably safest to move as it was likely “only going to get more intense.” And he wasn’t wrong.

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After that quick break, they blasted into Isaac is Typing, with Laurie joking about being in a WhatsApp group chat with Isaac saying it’s a nightmare. Isaac shouting “my therapist tells me not to engage” had me laughing right before the chaos-inducing track dropped.

Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Soft Play on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

Just when it felt like we were hitting a stride, the gig had to stop again for a suspected dislocated knee among the audience.

First aid and security swooped in to help before the lads dived back in five minutes later.

Once they were back, Isaac dedicated ‘Act Violently’ to vapers and e-scooter riders, while Laurie joked about wanting to kick Deliveroo riders off their bikes. Relatable and funny as ever.

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They pulled out an old classic, ‘F*** the Hi-Hat,’ and gave their spiel about how they used to play to absolutely no one back in the day - just the soundman, if they were lucky.

Panic Shack on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.Panic Shack on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Panic Shack on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

Going on to explain why they’re only a two-piece because no one else wanted to join their band when they first started.

Explaining the story of a punter in their early days asking them, “Where’s your hi-hat?”

The crowd answered that question in unison…‘F*** the Hi-Hat, we don’t need it’.

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Soft Play followed up with ‘Sockets,’ a blast from the past, nearly 10 years old now, that had everyone singing along.

One of the night’s big highlights was ‘Spit It Out,’ another heavy banger.

The lads looked proper ominous, covered in tattoos under the strobe lights while the crowd moshed. Isaac took a quick 10-second break after that one, and fair play—he’d been smashing the drums non-stop for nearly an hour.

Wonk Unit on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.Wonk Unit on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.
Wonk Unit on stage at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Friday, October 18, 2024. Photo by David Jackson.

‘Punk’s Dead’ from their new album was another sick moment, with the crowd screaming the track’s profanity laden hook “Soft Play, more like Soft C****s” back at them as an equally explicit banner was unveiled behind them.

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That tune stood out, with the energy going up another level.

Then came ‘Working Title,’ where Isaac got everyone moving with a nod to Eminem’s 8 Mile, getting the crowd to throw their hands up for the 313 before diving into the spoken word rock/rap track.

The gig wasn’t without a few more breaks. At one point, they paused again for a fan who told Isaac he needed a wee, with Isaac later asking the crowd where the “wee wee man” had gone.

Laurie also messed up a bit of a riff a couple of times and simply said ‘it’s been one of those days’ and that ‘perfection doesn’t exist’.

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He wasn’t wrong, but it only added to the charm of the evening.

After that, things took a bit of a turn as Laurie pulled out the mandolin for ‘Everything and Nothing’, a touching song dedicated to Isaac’s late friend.

A powerful moment in the set, with Isaac screaming the lyrics with raw emotion.

You could feel the mood shift from rage to something more emotional, but it didn’t last long.

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We picked ourselves up and were flung into ‘One More Day Won’t Hurt’, another high-energy belter that brought the chaos right back.

The night wrapped up with some of their OG tracks – ‘Beauty Quest’ and ‘The Hunter’, absolute bangers that had the crowd going wild.

By the end of it, everyone was sweating, the room was in chaos and the lads had proved they’re still one of the best at creating that kind of carnage.

Despite a few stoppages, it was a quality night. Soft Play are back from their hiatus and showed why they’re still at the top of their game.

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Together, they’ve got the music, the stage presence, and the ability to turn a gig into pure mayhem. What a night.

Soft Play played:

All Things

Mirror Muscles

Isaac is Typing…

Bin Juice Disaster

Act Violently

F*** the High-Hat

Sockets

Spit It Out

Punk’s Dead

Worms on Tarmac

Working Title

John Wick

It Makes Me Sick

Girl Fight

Everything and Nothing

One More Day Won't Hurt

Mushroom and The Swan

Beauty Quest

The Hunter

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