“… Jagged potent anthems had mosh pits crashing into each other all evening”

Photo by Tiger Brooke

Words by Cameron Whittaker

You cannot walk on stage to the Star Wars epic Duel of the Fates, and not have the audience expect big things. Luckily, West Midlands Poet Punks Big Special came wanting to put on a show. Duo Joe Hicklin (vocalist) and Callum Moloney (drummer) are currently midway through a UK/North America tour off the back of two critically acclaimed albums, POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES and NATIONAL AVERAGE.; which have allowed the pair to quit their jobs and pursue the project full time.  

Photo by Tiger Brooke

Standing front and centre, the group’s sound glimmers with the possibility of what can be performed by two people. Moloney’s authoritative drumming is essential to the groove, the hypnotic beatings reverberating inside the tightly packed venue. Hicklin’s vocals maintain an authoritative presence, bluesy melodic choruses well complementing the often gruff, energetic, spoken word verses; at times reminiscent of fellow Brum town hero Mike Skinner. While pack-a-punch guitar riffs are ever present throughout their songs, Hicklin utilises the guitar on stage sparingly; with Moloney ribbing his guitar playing prowess in the process. Perhaps more live guitar is to come in future.

Showmanship remained on the menu for the duration. The eclectic crowd drawn ranged from those under the legal drinking age, to a cohort of retired rockers; who were kept bouncing from start to finish by crowd pleasers such as, ‘SHITHOUSE.’ and ‘HUG A BASTARD’, who’s catchy hook, “One for a fiver, two for a pound”, I’ve been humming as I do chores around the house ever since. In breaks between songs, the artists maintained an excellent rapport with their audience; who were continually made to laugh by a sound board attached to the drum kit, used more than vigorously by Moloney during his many monologues. 

While jagged potent anthems had mosh pits crashing into each other all evening, Big Special were equally compelling in moments of more powerful reflection. Melancholic track, ‘DRAGGED UP A HILL (and thrown down the other side)’, was dedicated to a friend who had passed away from cancer. Throughout, hands were joined together, heads were pressed into shoulders; and no small talk could be heard in the venue: even from the very back. Being able to foster this kind of atmosphere makes it difficult to perceive the straight talking duo as anything other than reflective and earnest; especially considering the poetic musings throughout their discography, of a Middle England struggling to come to terms with not being great anymore (that’s postindustrial hometown blues for you). It was no surprise therefore, with kindness and empathy being rallying calls from the group, when “fuck farage” and “free palestine”, drew some of the loudest applause of the evening. 

Photos by Tiger Brooke

As the gig drew to a close – from where I was standing –  I noticed a beam of light illuminate the faces of three women at the front of the pit. For a moment, their faces were lit clear as day; as they smiled, drawing their hands together as one. Then darkness engulfed them, leaving only the image ingrained in my mind. I thought about this long after the gig had ended; I would guess this Big Special show was just one of many more to come for them, as it will now be for me, too, going forward. 

Don’t miss out – remaining tickets for further tour dates and festival appearances can be found via their website. 

Photos by Tiger Brooke