Tom Clarke from The Enemy

The Engine Rooms, Southampton,

THE FORMER frontman of indie stars The Enemy promised new music soon as he celebrated the anniversary of the band’s debut album in Southampton.

Ten years after it topped the charts, singer-songwriter Tom Clarke played all the iconic tracks from We’ll Live and Die in These Towns at a sold out Engine Rooms.

And after a mad response to timeless tunes like Had Enough, Pressure, You’re Not Alone and top ten single Away From Here he said that next time he’d bring new solo material.

This was an acoustic show, but with two guitars, a piano and Tom’s resilient vocals, it was as boisterous as when The Enemy, who split last year, used to play to thousands at The Guildhall.

“You lot make these gigs and you have done for ten years” Tom told fans at the end of the set.

A decade has passed, but the Midlands trio’s early indie-punk anthems about frustration, love and disillusionment mean as much now as they did then.

The chanting of the chorus to This Song kept going long after the band finished. Tunes by The Enemy still hold a special place in the heart of fans.

Three years ago Tom gave Southampton favourites The Sherlocks their first break through tour support slots. This time he’s taken our own rising star Sean McGowan on dates across the country. Here, Sean drew a big early crowd after local lad Calum Lintott ignited the evening with his own acoustic set.

Don’t miss The Sherlocks in Southampton at The 1865, Brunswick Square on September 21 and Sean McGowan with his full band at The Loft, Bedford Place, on Saturday, September 16.

By Richard Derbyshire

Photos by Tom Langford