Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. September 2009.

By opening their set with the title track from their new studio album The Devil in the Wind, The Men They Couldn’t Hang made a musical statement to the loyal crowd that not only were they back, but back with a bang.

There was nonetheless the familiar feeling of brotherhood as they played the fantastic Ghosts of Gable Street and Shirt Of Blue from the 1986 album How Green is the Valley.

This feeling of solidarity continued as there are, after all, very few bands that would not get away with allowing a member of the band to do a song from a forthcoming solo album- and feel justifiably feel proud to have do so but with guitarist Stefan Kush they pushed the boat out and the result was an excellent song, Savages.

TMTCH finished an entertaining set with a song from the new album. The Dr. Hook-inspired Mrs Avery and the band’s first single The Green Fields of France.

The night ended in fine style as the band came back on stage to huge applause for encores that included a superb version of Bank Robber.