A PACKED crowd turned out at The Institute in Digbeth to welcome Canada’s finest – the Barenaked Ladies – back to the Second City.
And it was like they hadn’t been away.
From the first strum, they built up a great rapport with their audience as they mixed their classic hits with songs from their new album during an impressive two-hour set.
They were ably supported by talented Scotsman Colin Hay who warmed the crowd up well and even joined BNL on a couple of numbers.
Among the highlights of the show were their performances of Brian Wilson, Pinch Me (with Colin Hay) and If I had a Million Dollars.
For the latter, the atmosphere was amazing as the crowd sang along to the backing vocals, giving Ed Robertson the chance to really strut his stuff.
The band delighted the near capacity crowd with their take on exploring the Birmingham canals and the ad-libbed rapping that they have become well-known and loved for.
They gave a special mention to those who had been dragged along to the gig by a BNL fanatic spouse or partner but the beauty of a Barenaked Ladies concert is it is not just those who have never seen them perform before who do not know what is coming next.
Both they and the audience thrive on the unpredictable and that makes for an unbelievable evening.
The night flew by and concluded with a humorous medley of pop songs old and new which included Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off, building up to Let it Go from Frozen – which had the crowd hysterically laughing and clapping along in equal measure.
There are not many bands who could get away with performing that multitude of contrasting tunes in one fell swoop.
But BNL didn’t just get away with it, they made it a memorable experience for those who had come to see them.
After a fantastic evening and a welcomed Snacktime-inspired encore, the masses reluctantly headed towards the exit.
They were clearly buzzing and you know, given half a chance, they would’ve continued to listen to the Barenaked Ladies all through the night and well into the next morning.
