After having a nice chat with Neil & Kelby from The Cadillac Three in the bar next door (read the interview here) and then grabbing some food from a local Five Guys it was on to a relatively new venue in Birmingham, The Oobleck. Housed at The Custard Factory it’s a tiny little place that still has a fair bit to learn in terms of running a music venue. If they keep getting the standard of bands they’ve had in their first few months they should have plenty of time to learn though. At The Gates played the night before and you could still feel your shoes sticking to the floor like some tacky nightclub. Not to worry though, you don’t go to a gig for the hygiene.

Opening the night were Tax The Heat. This was the third time seeing these guys in 2014 and the fact that their set is still so enjoyable despite just having the one EP out so far is impressive. The standard of songs that these guys have under their belts so far is the reason that it’s so easy to keep going back. Highway Home is the biggest and best so far and live it is even bigger. This show was by far the happiest I have seen the guys and it was good to see them having a laugh on stage. The crowd reacted well to them which was the most important thing and a few of them were singing along to a few songs too. It’s shows like this that will help raise the stock of a band with huge potential.

The headliners on the night were Nashville, Tennessee threesome The Cadillac Three. If I thought that Tax The Heat were going to be tough to follow, these guys did a bloody good job of it. From the moment they took to the stage the atmosphere was electric. Classic Rock made these guys their Best New Band of 2014 and they live up to that accolade. Despite having just the one album this was their fourth time in the UK in 2014 and it appears that their relentless touring has paid off a treat. A sold out run, even in pretty small venues, is impressive these days and I get the feeling it’s the last time they’ll be playing places of this stature. Highlight of the set was Back It Up, but really with the band on the form that they were on and a packed out room singing along to every word the whole set was a highlight. It seems that Country music is on an upward curve right now and these guys are riding the crest. Get hold of their album and get down to see them next year. You’d be foolish not to!