almost monday @ Mama Roux's

A long way from home, San Diego's indie-pop trio, almost monday, head out on their headline 'DIVE' tour across the UK, stopping in Birmingham following a stint across Asia, America and Europe. Chasing some summertime vibes in an English spring, the Mic's Beth Coldwell headed over to Mama Roux's to catch their third evening in the UK.

Arriving to a completely packed out venue, we found a comfortable place by the bar to listen to the second half of support act 'Little Image' who had the crowd in a trance-like state; their energy was immense and set a high-energy tone for an equally non-stop evening. The band's sound was a blend of funky-indie with heavier rock undertones- they were great and definitely ones to watch.

One pint later, the stage was soon bathed in warm lights as the crowd cheered from all corners- the floor, the stairs, the balcony; wherever there was space, people were there, and they were excited! Following their last visit to Birmingham supporting The Driver Era last year, the band seemed taken aback at the support for their turn in headlining here, some thousands of miles from home, as they took to the stage. Opening with Dive, the set flowed straight into upbeat, funky sounds with songs like is it too late? and only wanna dance with you, and didn't stop until the end of the evening.

"They truly know who they are and it is evident through their consistency both on stage and through their studio music that they aren't a force to be reckoned with."

From the get-go, it felt like summer. The large sunshine logo on the screen was a perfect backdrop for the set; the graphics and the lighting were simple but so effective. If I closed my eyes, I was on a beach somewhere in 30 degree heat, pina colada in hand, with some seriously funky tunes on. The whole vibe of the band's surf-rock sound was perfectly encapsulated in their performance from the song choices to the energy they brought across. They truly know who they are and it is evident through their consistency both on stage and through their studio music that they aren't a force to be reckoned with.

The energy from front man, Dawson Daugherty, was absolutely infectious; he ruled the stage like that's what he was born to do. He didn't stand still for a second, showcasing his signature dancing and strutting round his space like his life depended on it, but it created this connection between him and the music that was really awesome to see. His enjoyment of performing was perfectly reflected in the crowd's enjoyment to hear it; it was impossible to stand still at all during this set. And not to dismiss his incredible vocals!

"almost monday are a slice of sunshine on any day, rain or shine."

Some golden oldies were tastefully intertwined alongside flashy new songs off the band's most recent album DIVE, with the crowd cheering at the intro of cough drops and parking lot view. Their sound was so crisp and, dare I say it, even better than the studio versions that I've been listening to on-repeat at home (and in the car, and on my walk to Uni, and everywhere else I have a chance to listen to music). Cole Clisby's drums and Luke Fabry's bass were perfectly executed, never missing a beat and blending seamlessly with Daugherty's tuneful vocals. Their cover of Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, although unexpected, was well delivered and the band's rendition worked so well with the rest of their song choices.

It was impossible to be in this crowd without a smile on your face and a bounce in your step. Energy radiated from the stage throughout the crowd; we left feeling completely in awe and desperate to listen to the band the whole car journey home. Following their DIVE tour, the trio are heading to a handful of festivals across Europe this summer and I'm counting down the days until I can catch them at Rockwerchter this July. almost monday are a slice of sunshine on any day, rain or shine, and I cannot wait to see what's next for them.

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Edited by Bethany Coldwell