Don Broco: hmv Empire Coventry
Author: Emma Johnson
Don Broco embarked on a short warm-up tour before headlining 2000 Trees on the 13th of July. This marks their first return to Coventry since the band blew up in 2011 and sold out their first headline tour, Priorities.
Don Broco’s frontman, Rob Damiani, is known for his laddy energy, similar to that found during pitch invasions at Old Trafford, so I had expected a warm reception from fans, old and new. Still, I could not have anticipated the community spirit which pervaded the entire gig.
Killer Atmosphere and Crowd
Behind the 1960s concrete and peeling paint lies a diamond in the rough at the heart of Coventry. The clean and modern interior surprised me, and the smoking terrace in the Main Bar was a bustling hub for warm revellers between bands. The HMV Empire is an amazing venue and they constantly have incredible events inside their hallowed halls, I would highly recommend taking a look at some of the venue’s latest shows.
Unsurprisingly, the gig was a sell-out. The crowd was eager from young lovers attending their first gig to die-hard veteran fans and battle-jacketed rock aficionados. Bowden’s New Wave sound and catchy sad girl lyrics eased the crowd into the gig. Alas, the growing crowd was unprepared for Dune Rats’ chaotic entrance and unintelligible punk. Wide-eyed and unwashed, Dune Rats’ were the perfect warm-up act for Don Broco with catchy songs and Aussie drinking rituals.
Predictably Don Broco’s opening song, Everybody, was met with unbridled cheers and the crowd were instantly hooked, smiling intently at the stage like they were greeting old friends, and Damiani smiled right back. Their lively performance took a suave turn with Pretty, a personal favourite of mine, which perfectly illustrates Don Broco’s genre-bending style. As the crowd loosened up, Damiani opened up a mosh pit in his usual friendly hooligan demeanour, and the centre of the floor erupted at the breakdown. Continuing with hits from their 2018 album, they played Technology and flooded the room with red white and blue lighting for Come to LA.
I Put My Gumshield In Protect Me From Myself
Gumshields throbbing opening and heavy vocals acted as a pressure release for the Battle Jacketed Superfans before drummer Matt Donnelly captivated the crowd with One True Prince’s heart-wrenching lyrics. The journey continued through the 2021 album, Amazing Things’, Uber and Manchester Super Reds No.1 Fan then Stay Ignorant, with Damiani growling and intense, the crowd swayed and nodded in solidarity with his impassioned performance and call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Further highlights of the gig included a deeper dive into Don Broco’s relatable back catalogue, Priorities and You Wanna Know before resetting the crowd with Bruce Willis, a multi-genre fever dream so hypnotic that you almost overlook the Yippe Ki-yay MF’er reference. Riding high on Endorphins, and unwaveringly passionate, the show concluded with Damiani and Donnelly blowing the crowd away with Fingernails. The crowd responded with an adoring call for an encore, then quiet anticipation punctuated with optimistic fans stripping off their tops, hopeful for a crowd-pleaser T-shirt song.
As lights and music reawakened, the room transformed, with shirtless revellers screaming at the top of their lungs and spinning their t-shirts above their heads as their lives depended on it. Don Broco’s ability to deliver an energetic and professional performance, while warming the hearts of fans new and old with their boyish charm, is unlike anything I’ve experienced. You’re left feeling the kind of warmth that you’d expect after you’d put the world to rights with friends in the local Spoons.
The ability to instruct a “kind” mosh pit speaks to the camaraderie that Don Broco holds with their fans, and their consistent performance quality over the past 15 years. Not only was every song executed perfectly, not a single syllable was dropped from the fast-paced rap elements. Although I’ve been aware of Don Broco for several years, I’ve not previously felt inclined to seek out their live performances. I can admit when I’ve made a mistake, and I look forward to their next tour of the UK. I urge any live music fans to treat themselves to a night on the town with Don Broco and to remember your football shirts.
