Photo Credit: Ola Hac
Nearly 10 years into their career, indie-rock band Sports Team have perfected the art of chaos. At a sold-out O2 Institute 2 in Birmingham, the six-piece delivered a set that felt unhinged and entirely deliberate. On the third night of their November tour celebrating the release of their third album Boy These Days, the band were as loud, playful, and disorderly as ever. Yet, in a precision filled industry, the band’s unpredictability remains their greatest charm.
The night opened with Liverpool-based newcomers Kissing People, a tight-knit three-piece performing indie-rock tunes. The trio packed a surprising amount of energy into their small lineup, with the drummer taking the lead on vocals while the bassist and guitarist added harmonies and riffs that filled the stage. For a band so new to performing live, they owned the stage and moved with a natural chemistry which showed even a small setup can be memorable.
Next up, Stoke’s Formal Speedwear offered a cooler, more measured energy. The three-piece leaned into psych-tinged art-rock with clear seventies and eighties influences, launching straight into their songs with no fuss. Layered guitars and synths created a textured sound that contrasted sharply with the playful energy of the opening act. Their set was precise, cool, and a little abstract and the crowd was completely locked in.
When Sport’s Team took to the stage, the crowd was more than ready to give their all. ‘The Game’ kicked off and the first mosh pits formed immediately. From there, the energy never dropped. ‘Bang Bang Bang’ felt reminiscent of a western cowboy movie until moshpits descended the crowd. ‘Happy (God’s Own Country)’ and ‘The Drop’ saw everyone singing along, while ‘Stations of the Cross’ brought a calmer moment in the middle of the chaos. A standout moment came when they performed the lead single from Boy These Days, ‘I’m In Love (Subaru)’. Even in a new era, their sound remains unmistakably Sports Team.
What sets the band apart stems hugely from the way they involve the crowd. Following ‘Sensible’, Alex Rice (lead vocals) asked if the audience “wanted to do a thing,” prompting fans to form a human pyramid. As soon as it collapsed, the band launched straight into ‘Camel Crew’. From crowd surfing to clapping along, the energy never faltered. Even when Alex’s mic cut out briefly, the band carried on like nothing was wrong. Hits like ‘Kutcher’, ‘Pet Sounds’, and ‘Medium Machine’ kept the room alive, and ‘Maybe When We’re Thirty’ slowed things down just enough to let fans hold up lighters and phone torches, creating a fleeting but unforgettable moment.
The encore brought the night’s energy to its peak. ‘Fishing’, ‘Here’s the Thing’, and ‘Stanton’ returned the audience full-throttle, with mosh pits, crowd surfing, and sing-alongs echoing around the room. Guitarist Henry Young even joined the crowd mid-song for his “first time” crowd surfing. As the lights came up and Robbie Williams’ Angels played, the crowd relived every wild moment of the night. Sports Team had once again proven why their shows are unmissable.
Taped Magazine 