Throwback two months to when I cheekily ended my NSG interview with, “we’ll have to sort something out about one of your shows”. I was reassured at the time, “100%, Charlotte from Burn FM yeah? Gang gang, we got you.” Little did I know that on Wednesday 13th March, just hours before NSG were due onstage in Birmingham, they stayed true to their word and blessed me with guestlist places. This is an example of what is already so evident about this East-London group of six – they are very dedicated to their fans.
So, this is how I found myself in an intimate room of the O2 Institute for NSG’s sold-out Options Tour. It’s testament to their broad appeal that there were a surprisingly large number of female fans in the audience; many girls even seemed to have a favourite member which is rather reflective of a boyband as there is someone for everyone. The atmosphere in the crowd was that of excitement as several warm up acts appeared onstage ahead of the salient-six. Coventry-based Jay 1 was the most notable guest but particular praise must be given to DJ Suukz, whose taste in music gives my Spotify playlist a run for its money.
Having successfully dipped my way through a moshpit, I landed only a few rows from the front just as the boys were due to perform and the countdown began for their entrance. In true rockstar fashion, they arrived on stage in a line with their backs to the audience and instructed everyone to “put [their] rockstar hands up”. However, they’ve clearly not been carried away by this lifestyle as, before launching into their set, they thanked everyone for coming out to see them. The show kicked off with Pushing Up and only got better as each song was performed – personal favourites included Lyca, P.U.T.B and their two tracks with Geko. The nature of their music already makes for an energetic performance but NSG delivered it in style. It cannot be disputed that they have a lively stage presence and seem to collaborate well as a six. Obviously, it was only right for them to finish on their top-ten track Options and, in an acapella style singalong, the Institute was flooded with the lyrics that have thrust these men into mass fame.
If the performance was not impressive enough, it was an added bonus that the group came to personally greet their fans afterwards. When interviewing NSG back in January I was asked if I’d ever seen an ‘NSG show’ before; sadly, I had not and was told that if I do, my concept of them will change forever. Having now been to their show, I cannot speak more highly of this humble, likeable group.
by Char Stape
