Neck Deep at Electric Ballroom

Neck Deep are a five-piece pop/punk band and the biggest thing to ever come out of Wrexham, North Wales.  Self-proclaimed “losers”, they have proven themselves to be anything but. The wealth of interviews available online show them to be down-to-earth and very funny.

Many here tonight discovered Neck Deep on social media. Over 77,000 followers on Twitter is not a figure to be scoffed at, after only a mere two years of existence. Lloyd Roberts, guitarist, and Barlow recorded a few songs that received such a good online reaction they were motivated to make more. After recruiting friends and acquiring others from the local music scene to form the rest of the band, they quickly garnered respect from the music community. They signed with Hopeless Records in 2013 and won Kerrang’s Best British Newcomer of the Year Award a year later.

The Camden crowd love this band. As soon as the set starts with Losing Teeth, the gig becomes a festival. When Ben Barlow, lead vocalist, requests that the crowd form a giant mosh pit, a huge hole appears in the centre of the throng.  At first only a few hurl themselves from one side to the other, but it only takes seconds for others to join in. From the balcony above, the spectacle looks like swirling gas.

Neck Deep play a few songs from their previous album, though the set is focused on their latest record, Wishful Thinking. Lyrics refer to their youth, but are more meaningful than you’d usually associate with the genre. From Crushing Grief to Zoltar Speaks, the guitars rip the roof of the venue. Dani Washington, on drums, is the cornerstone of these tracks, particularly Zoltar Speaks. Pace is ferocious and Barlow miraculously is note perfect.  ost of us wouldn’t be able to breathe if we performed the way he does. The balance of relentless rock, topped with the undeniable Americana of Barlow’s voice, makes for perfect punk pop. 

Anyone unable to attend The Intercontinental Championships tour, which finished at the Electric Ballroom, must keep an eye out for future gigs. Dates currently scheduled for next year on the Vans Warped Tour are all Stateside. This is a band to see live: Neck Deep have definitely been eating their Weetabix. The energy on stage was astounding from start to finish. They still have a strong connection to their fans and know how to give them a good time, because it’s exactly what they wanted from a show before they were famous.

Tina Squatley-Thrust

For further information about Neck Deep and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Losing Teeth here: