LOUD, punchy and with a dedicated following, The Enemy are one of Britain’s biggest and best indie-rock bands. TIM HUGHES  talks to drummer Liam Watts about fans, football and taking their music to a whole new audience

THEY are one of the country’s biggest rock bands and have just released their third top 10 album – probably their best to date. So what are The Enemy doing playing to a room full of clubbers... for a fiver a head?

Having sold out arenas, supported Oasis, Kasabian and the Manic Street Preachers, and played on stage with ‘the Modfather’ Paul Weller, Coventry three-piece The Enemy are driving down the M40 for a night at the O2 Academy Oxford, for a snappy set during the venue’s indie-rock night.

Saturday’s show is part of a tour of seven weekend Propaganda nights.

“It’s a win-win scenario,” says drummer Liam Watts. “We get to go out and do what we do, and people get to see us for a fiver.”

It is seven years since these three lads from the West Midlands burst on to the scene in a riot of Mod attitude, Brit Pop swagger and unashamed rock and roll energy.

Formed in Coventry in 2006 by Liam and friends Andy Hopkins (bass) and guitarist and singer Tom Clarke, their first single – 40 Days, 40 Nights – sold out all 1,000 copies of its limited edition vinyl in less than a day.

Their platinum debut We’ll Live and Die in These Towns went straight to the top of the charts, going platinum and siring top 10 hit singles Away From Here and Had Enough.

Second effort Music For The People charted at number two, and went gold. Its hit single Be Somebody is a lad anthem and an ITV football favourite, soundtracking their FA Cup coverage – a matter of pride to this bunch of Coventry City fans. Underlining their credibility among footy fans, they last year played a set on the roof terrace at Wembley before the FA Cup Final.

“I used to be massively into football, so that was great!” says Liam. “Though unfortunately we didn’t get to stick around and watch the match as we had to drive off to play a gig.”

Liam, 24, is talking from his home in Coventry, where he is getting ready for the gig. “I’m just getting some stuff together,” he says “I always forget something.”

The show will see the lads showcasing tunes from their third album Streets in the Sky – a punchy riot of heavy guitars and indie anthems. The band are rightly proud of it. “As far as our albums are concerned, it’s only this last one which sounds how we sound live,” says Liam.

“It’s hard to capture our sound in the studio; it’s a different way of thinking. It’s not as simple as getting in a room and playing. It’s about being in the right situation, being well-rehearsed and knowing what’s happening. “It’s about the vibe, getting in the right mindset, living in the moment and giving it 100 per cent.”

The album was recorded in Los Angeles with Joby J Ford from US punks The Bronx.

“In the studio we didn’t let up,” adds Liam. “I was hitting the drums as hard as I could and making sure we weren’t sitting back too much.”

The band’s appeal lies in their attachment to their working class roots. They are proud of their home city and its rich musical heritage. Liam’s dad is a ska fan who played in bands.

“I grew up listening to ska and it was a massive influence,” he says. “You can listen to a song like Ghost Town and walk around Coventry and see it’s still true today. The lyrics hit the nail on the head.”

They are one of those rare bands who have a genuine bond with their fans; their lyrics speak to people who have grown up on the same streets and think the same way.

“We are normal people and so are our fans,” says Liam. “We’ve got quite a mix who come to gigs: girls at the front, bunches of lads going mad, and older people at the back.

“We are a loud band and ‘in your face’ but our songs come across. We don’t see ourselves as cool or fashionable; we do what we do and our fans are similar people. The best thing is being on stage and seeing your mates in the mosh pit going mad.”

Three albums in, they have lost none of their edge.

“You can see how easy it is for bands to lose the plot,” says Liam. “But we are not fazed. We stick to our guns and be normal.”

Saturday’s club night show will be a sawn-off gig, lasting up to 40 minutes. “We’ll still get about 10 songs in,” says Liam. “We are aware that people will be out on their weekly Propaganda trip so don’t want to hear a long set.

“They’ll be having a good night, enjoying the music, and we’ll come in and give them a taster, say ‘good night’ and let them get back to what they were doing.

“This will be enough to get the point of the band across.”

And he can’t wait to share his music with a new audience. “The good thing for us is we will be playing to fans, but also to people who have not seen us before. We get to see our own fans but also win over a few more.”

The Enemy play Propaganda at the O2 Academy Oxford on Saturday. Tickets are £5 (£4 for NHS) from ticketweb.co.uk or £6 on the door.