A Coventry Success Story!

The Enemy
By CovSid67
July 20 2007

Sadly, nothing to do with the football club - yet! But is it to do with a few Coventry City supporters. Three youngsters to be precise, all Coventry City season ticket holders (According to the local paper). They're putting my beloved City on the map. And how! Take a bow, Coventry's 'The Enemy'....

Last Saturday evening, the day before their debut album reached No. 1 in the charts, I, along with a few thousand others, had the privilege of watching them play in their home-town of Coventry. They were ****ing awesome!

What an absolute scoop for The Godiva Festival that they got the best new act in the country to play the day before their album topped the charts, and how lucky were the thousands that watched that they had the pleasure of seeing them for free?! (Though it did end up costing me £80, as my sunglasses were knocked from my head!).

As the band stated while on-stage, last year they played in the same place, in front of a mere 40 or so people. What a difference a year makes! I'm not sure how many people squeezed into the tent, but the noise generated by the Coventry City fans in the audience was as loud as I've heard them for a good few years! It sent shivers down my spine.

Entering the stage to The Specials ' Too Much To Young' (Some would say how apt, but these lads have worked bloody hard for what they have achieved!), the however many thousand strong crowd responded by singing Sky Blue Army and assorted other Coventry City songs - probably as loud as I've heard them sung by 20,000 at the Arena! If anybody at the club bothers reading this, it could be worth employing these lads to get things started on matchdays....

I confess, there was a tear in my eye, and a lump in my throat, as they entered the stage. The words 'success' and 'Coventry' rarely go together! To show just how few celeb's/famous people have ever come from said place, The Krankies are probably in our All Time Top 10. The shame of it. I doubt The Enemy are doing this to become celebrities, but I doubt they will be able to walk round Coventry to freely from now on.....

I also confess to having a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat when I read the sleeve notes to their album: 'This album is dedicated to the Fans and the good people of Coventry. WHILE WE SING TOGETHER, WE WILL NEVER LOSE'. The vocalist of our last well known band (Apologies for ignoring the contribution of King), Terry Hall, couldn't leave the place fast enough, and supported 'another' team!

As mentioned already, they were awesome. Their album is top quality, possibly one of the best debut albums I've heard, but live, they're even better! This was one of the best gigs I've ever witnessed (Out of 100's, though I confess, I can't remember a fair few of them!). Maybe it's because it was personal that they were so good, though from reading opinions from people outside the area, they are just great live, full stop!

They look good, have great attitude, and, most importantly, they make great music. If you haven't seen them yet, they're on tour soon, so go check them out (If you can still get a ticket!).

I don't know the lads, and now probably have zero chance of ever meeting them, but I am extremely proud of what they are doing for the City, and I'm one of not enough people to be proud to come from Coventry (People seem too happy just to live in the shadow of some of our neighbours).

It's an under-statement to say I'm ecstatic that they are putting us on the map in such a positive way. And, looking at the websites, it seems The Enemy have suddenly made a lot more people proud to be from Coventry, with the lads themselves seeming equally as proud to tell people where they are from.

The perfect scenario is that Coventry City finish at least in the Top 6 this season, with The Enemy showcasing new material at the end of season promotion celebrations at the Ricoh! While some may mock (Including me if I'm honest!), if a band that only got together around 15 months ago can see their debut album reach the top of the charts, anything can happen!

Their records HAVE to be played at the Arena next (This) season, with those in charge of such details at the club guaranteed a response if they do. And, I'm not sure how the band would feel about the club exploiting their name, but, there must be a way of the band and the club doing something that is mutually beneficial for each other (As Port Vale did with the Fat Dancer From Take That).

Coventry the City finally has something to brag about. Musically: The Enemy are top of the pile. Let's hope Coventry City are come May 2008 too.

The only question that needs asking as far as the band is concerned is: how the **** do The Enemy top their first year+ together? I'm sure watching their favourite football team gain promotion would be a start....