Great Example for West Midlands music fans

Wednesday 9th March 2011, 1:11PM GMT.

Example

O2 Academy, Birmingham

words and pictures by James Watkins

Example arrived in the West Midlands to the biggest queue wrapped around the O2 Academy since its opening. The line stretching further than the eye could see.

Such anticipation from fans was no surprise; the London boy has come a long way in a short space of time.

Fans who arrived early enjoyed the added bonus of two stellar support slots from Neon Hitch, with her Kylie-esque tunes and stunning stage presence, and the explosive Wretch 32, who has shared recent chart success for his monstrous brit-rap tunes.

Then, as the lights dimmed and the beat and synthesized vox of his name played out, Example bounded onstage to get the party well and truly started with a plethora of his biggest hits.

Playing through Two lives and Won’t Go Quietly, he sent the pogoing revellers wild.

From first view, Example looks like any ordinary singer/songwriter – dressed in a casual manner and wanting to get his tunes out there, but it was the way that he owned every inch of the stage that really impressed.

Playing through Last Ones Standing and Watch The Sun Come Up, Example was joined onstage by Wretch 32 to sing the highlight of the night; the pop-perfect Unorthodox.

Ending the night on a mass high with Kickstarts, Example bounced around the stage like a jack-in-the-box, only with a less scary outcome and sent the fans home happy.

The only criticism was that those who waited over four hours in the queue, only got to see an hour of their hero. But what an hour.