There’s something almost sacred about seeing The Enemy in Coventry like returning to the source of a spark that never really went out. Night one of their hometown run at the hmv Empire felt less like a gig and more like a pilgrimage. People didn’t just arrive – they gathered, converging from every corner of the city and beyond, buzzing with anticipation. And the moment the lights dropped and Aggro ripped through the room, it became clear: this was going to be one of those nights people talk about for years.
The Enemy @ hmv Empire Coventry
You don’t attend a The Enemy show in Coventry, you join a community. It feels like a weekly congregation where the hymns are loud, the sweat is shared, and the energy is relentless. It’s church without the pews; communion without the quiet. As Away From Here kicked in, the floor seemed to flex under the weight of hundreds of fans singing along in perfect, chaotic unison. This crowd wasn’t passive, they were part of the performance, part of the story. Many had grown up with these songs, and you could feel that history in the room.
One of the night’s biggest moments came mid-set with the debut of their brand new single, Not Going Your Way. The reaction was immediate. Even though it’s fresh to the world, the crowd embraced it as if it had always been part of the canon. It’s a powerful early statement from their upcoming album, set for release next February, a record that already feels poised to kick off a new chapter for the band. Hearing the track live in their hometown made it hit even harder: sharper guitars, confident vocals, and a spark that shows that the trio of frontman and guitarist Tom Clarke, bassist Andy Hopkins and drummer Liam Watts aren’t just back—they’re hungry.
Pressure and Had Enough followed with the kind of raw, working-class bite that first put the band on the map, while We’ll Live And Die in These Towns became a thunderous love letter between the musicians and the city that shaped them. Arms around shoulders, pints raised, voices cracking – it was a moment where time stopped and the whole room felt stitched together by memory, pride, and place.
You’re Not Alone transformed the venue into a choir. It didn’t sound like people singing; it felt like people lifting each other – friends and strangers alike. By the time the main set closed with Technodanceaphobic and 40 Days & 40 Nights, the atmosphere was pure chaos in the best possible way. Sweaty, messy, joyful – exactly what a Coventry – show should be.
The encore was more of a victory lap than a formality. The Elephant Song swaggered in with confidence, followed by Trouble and Be Somebody, which transported the crowd straight back into the mid-2000s whirlwind that first defined the band’s rise. The Gimme the Sign / Saturday blend detonated into one of the night’s loudest singalongs, the kind that rattles your ribs and lingers long after the final chord. Then came a beautiful curveball: Happy Birthday Jane, a moment of warmth and connection that summed up the whole evening. This wasn’t just a crowd; it was a family celebrating together.
They closed with No Time For Tears and This Song, ending the night in a blaze of energy that left the room glowing. People walked out with hoarse voices, aching legs, and full hearts—exactly as they should after an Enemy hometown show. No band captures the feeling of belonging quite like The Enemy do in Coventry. It’s not nostalgia—it’s identity. It’s pride. It’s a reminder of the towns we come from, the people we grew up with, and the music that still connects us.
Night one of two consecutive shows at the hmv Empire wasn’t just a gig. It was a homecoming, a celebration, and a thrilling look at the new era that awaits when the band’s new album lands next February.
Live review & photography of The Enemy at hmv Empire Coventry on 14th November 2025 by Nick Allan.
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