I knew it was going to be a good night immediately when they came on stage as they brought the energy from the beginning. Going into their single ‘Shithouse’ they got the audience behind them from the start. After their first incredible performance someone shouted from the stalls "Shithouse!" and Callum replied, “You have to get used to people shouting Shithouse at you!” A laugh filled the room.
They played songs from their debut album but did play a new song which sounded great and makes me very excited for their future releases. Some standout moments for me were ‘Black Dog/ White Horse’, as Joe’s vocals were incredible and had everyone’s attention. Another moment that stood out to me was Callum’s drum solo later in the set.
Other than songs, Big Special kept the audience’s attention in between each song, encouraging audience interaction throughout their support. This was seen through the use of "Have we done a good job?" which saw many cheers in agreement. Plus, the use of thumbs up to engage whether the audience were having a good time, which we all were. At the end of their set all the room put there thumbs up and cheered for what I think was one of the best support acts I have seen in a good while. Plus, as my last gig of my first year in Newcastle seeing Big Special and the Pixies was an unforgettable experience and an incredible way to end an amazing year of gigs and memories.
This was Big Special's first show in Newcastle. They even joked how they had been able to go to Australia before coming to the Toon. However, they are coming back for a headline gig next year at Digital on 15 February with the support of GANS! If you’re a fan of post punk madness or just fancy a mosh pit I totally recommend that you go and see Big Special. I cannot wait to see how their success goes in the future, they totally deserve it!