December 10, Wulfrun Hall

Despite a shaky start, Simon Cowell's December 10 seems to be finally making headway. With the assumption that a Netflix series would propel them to instant international success and huge chart acclaim, they appear to have fallen very far short of those anticipations. However, with their debut EP, On Your Side, having been well-received and chart success looking imminent, the group have taken to the road for a tour that is much bigger than their small but sold-out debut introduction tour back at the start of the year. With decent-sized venues around Europe selling out, it is clear that the marketing machine has been working and fans are flocking in their droves to catch a glimpse of their new favourite boyband. As the sextet (the seventh member, Danny, is already on hiatus) arrives in Wolverhampton, fans in the queue seem nervous that Cruz may not make the show after appearing unwell at a photo opportunity in Birmingham earlier; however, all six appear on the famous Wulfrun Hall stage.

With their audience including some rather younger members, the band skip the formality of a support act, trading it instead for a post-show meet and greet (if a vinyl or CD is purchased on site – thus helping their impending chart position) and make their appearance just shortly after 7.30. They launch into a song that truly deserved to be featured on their debut EP. In the immediate aftermath of their Netflix show, the group's abilities were showcased by a really lush reworking of 'N Sync's Bye Bye Bye, and their delivery to start their show highlights the depth of their vocal talents and also the beauty of this tender reworking of a former pop anthem.

Given their lack of original material, the show does heavily rely on some cleverly chosen covers – from Shawn Mendes to Justin Bieber. The band clearly know their audience and their musical tastes and balance the directness of their covers with the chance to showcase their different capabilities. This works particularly well in an acoustic middle set that really takes the intimacy of the space and sees the band focus on the connection they need to generate with their already devoted audience.

While there is no denying that their cover of Djo's End of Beginning proves why it ended up on the EP, it is in the strength of their own material that the show takes on its real appeal. Although their debut EP is fresh, the audience know every word, and they showcase not just their dance skills but also their individual instrument capabilities, which sees them land somewhere between The Vamps and One Direction. The pitch is strong, as this is something other boybands have not really showcased from the outset historically.

As the set builds towards their official debut single, Run My Way, it is clear that the big pop anthems are what the audience most desperately crave, with the closing song – Infinity (123) – effortlessly their strongest moment.

While it is clear that December 10 are currently honing their craft and finalising their on-stage presentation, they get so much right in this tour that you just hope they don't lose their personality in favour of slick and sleek production. This is an old-school way to really build a core fanbase, and there is no doubt December 10 has the ingredients they need.