Two Bands and Two Very Different Fans Under the Skyscrapers of Birmingham

Insatiable One Joolz Green took her dad, Des Green, to the Suede gig on Saturday 7th November 2026 at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham. Meanwhile, Mike Harris was also in the crowd, so we’ve got two very different takes on the night: one a life long fan, one seeing the band through fresh eyes. This is what they thought of it.

Pictures: Mike Harris, Stephen Wilson and Mette Smølz Skau

No visible breaks

Mike: OK, a slightly laboured title, the skyscrapers of Birmingham loom a little bit away from the National Indoor Arena, but it sort of makes sense!

I'd read the widely positive reviews of the London O2 show in the national press and as a result was looking forward to this, my third show of the Suede and Manic Street Preachers joint tours (4th if you count V festival 1999!) 28th overall for Suede, not quite full IO territory.

Des: This was my first Suede Concert! My daughter, Juliette, an avid Suede devotee, bought me tickets for this performance. Following this gig, I realised how much energy the group and in particular Brett has in abundance. The setlist was played without any visible breaks in between and the audience – both those seated, including myself, and the many hundred standing – were enthusiastic and knowledgeable throughout.

£10 a Pint Self Service Bar

Mike: By nature of geography, this and the two previous Suede/MSP shows had Suede on first (one of the previous ones was in Cardiff, so fair enough!) and also the first one I'd seen indoors.

The NIA is a vast arena, and when you'd got past the £10 a pint self service bars and entered the auditorium, you are greeting by a giant image of Brett from the Antidepressants cover like a dark angel amid the gloom.

A Personal Favourite

Mike: Soon enough, on came the band (a few moody chords before Brett struts on), and with a "Welcome to Suedeworld, Birmingham!" they immediately set into Turn Off Your Brain And Yell, followed by Disintegrate to remind us this was just a coast through the hits with some old friends.

Trash followed, the Animal (Nitrate) was released, then a personal favouriite: We Are The Pigs got a not-that-common airing.

Bass-god Moves

Mike: The stage is a big one and an unusual offset drum riser gave the chance for Mat to be centre stage for much of the time giving it some bass-god moves, as Brett prowled across the stage in front of him. Richard and Simon did their thing, as effectively as usual.

Des: For a man approaching sixty years of age, Brett has what appears to be boundless energy! His control of the audience was, in my opinion, very much in the mould of the late Freddie Mercury and his movements around the stage were reminiscent on many occasions of the late David Bowie!

A Lot of Highlights

Mike: Full set listings are available elsewhere online, but other highlights followed, an extended version of Saturday Night, the re-loved Everything Will Flow, with Brett going walkabout into the crowd.

A barnstorming rendition of She Still Leads Me On (dedicated to the Mothers and Sons - extra special for me as my late Mum was from Birmingham) and an almost accapella verison of the supposedly disliked Stay Together (see article's title) with just Neil joining on piano.

A Few Laments

Mike: A blast through Metal Mickey (with a cool background image, reflecting the video) and the inevitable Beautiful Ones ended the show in usual La La La-la-la-la-la fashion, a few thank yous from Brett, waves from the band and they were off.

Des: I confess to not knowing the words of all the songs but I was particularly impressed with Animal Nitrate, We Are The Pigs, Saturday Night and, of course, Beautiful Ones. Stay Together was excellent, particularly after knowing the reasons behind it. I was a little surprised that Brett didn’t introduce the rest of the group but I am reliably informed by the regulars in my party that he usually doesn’t! Overall, a great evening of entertainment!

Mike: Great show, though I lament (as usual) on the absence of songs from Bloodsports (Barriers, For The Strangers or It Starts and Ends With You would all be welcome here) and no hints of new songs unlike previous nights on the tour.

Quick word on the Manics

Mike: Like Suede with such a vast song history to draw on means you can start with your arguably most beloved song (Motorcycle Emptiness) and following with Everythng Must Go shows what wealth of songs they can draw from. Highlights for me were Autumnsong and You Love Us, before If You Tolerate This closed the evening,

About Arenas

Mike: In my view these sort of venues are not Suede's natural habitat, MSP maybe a bit more? but I think both bands are better in large theatres/concert halls rather than these arenas. I also felt that even though I'd seen Suede on first on the 2 other ocassions this one felt a bit more like a MSP headline with Suede support.

I don't know why, maybe as both other times were outdoors, there was much less chat/banter from both bands and Manics ending with some confetti cannons? Can't put my finger on it.

As we all spilled out into the Birmngham night beneath those skyscrapers and into the chaos of Saturday Night on Broad Street (if you know, you know) I suppose I did feel a bit like the litter on the breeze and the lovers on the streets.