The Maccabees, O2 Institute, Birmingham - review with pictures

But that's exactly what south London indie band, The Maccabees, are facing.

The band are calling it a day after 14 years and kick-started their farewell tour in Birmingham last night.

When they first hit the charts they were among Britain's burgeoning indie soundtrack for the new Millennium.

And those memories came flooding back for a swaying mass of slightly older indie kids gathered in the crowd at the O2 Institute.

Watching the band on stage there was that feeling of seeing a group on top, at their best, knowing these days would soon be over.

At times front man Orlando Weeks was almost lost for words looking out at the evangelical crowd, guitarist Felix White picked out people with fist pumps of appreciation and drummer Sam Doyle seemingly welling-up with emotion.

The five-piece dipped into their back catalogue to create a set that ebbed and flowed from crowd-pleasing anthems to moments of melancholy.

A sweet moment came when they played Latchmere, an ode to their local leisure centre and its wave machine, played with charm and exuberance.

Highlights of a frenetic night of nostalgia included No Kind Words, Love You Better and Something like Happiness.

But to be honest it was one of those gigs where it wouldn't have mattered what made the set.

Just to enjoy one of your favourite bands for the final time was enough.

They finished the night with a brilliant encore including Marks To Prove It, Toothpaste Kisses and Pelican.

Perhaps the only way to sign off is with the lyrics of The Maccabees towering track, Forever I've Known - a true highlight of the band's final Brummie show.

"Forever I’ve known/Nothing stays forever”.

*The Maccabees continue their tour at the O2 Academy in Glasgow tonight and end with three nights at London's Alexandra Palace from June 29 to July 1.