Birmingham Academy - 19th February
Manchester Academy - 20th Febraury
If you ever needed an excuse to see the same band more than once on the same tour then Jimmy Eat World’s Birmingham and Manchester gigs would be perfect examples. Both nights highlighted perfectly the layered and complex nature of JEW songs, perfectly illustrating the entangled emotions woven into their songs.
Perhaps it was the frosty and bitterly cold Tuesday weather which lead to the Birmingham show being more sombre and thoughtful, where the blue hues of the lighting really showed the mood of the show. The band themselves seemed unconcerned with talking in between songs and the audience seemed frozen by the music, allowing the intensity of the songs to wash over them in a contemplatative manner. Songs like Work and 23 really proved their intensity, sounding more powerful in the toned-down mood.
Whereas the warmer Manchester gig with its reds and more upbeat songs showed the energy that can be found underlying a variety of songs. Even with the technical difficulties at the Manchester show the crowd and the band themselves were more upbeat, more vocal and more overt in their appreciation for the set. Throwing in A Praise Chorus, which was notably absent from the night before really added to the already abundant energy of the crowd. Tonight’s set highlighted the passion in JEW’s songs, which are largely viewed to be less frenetic than current emo bands.
Both nights ended with the predictable choice of song, The Middle, however it was interesting to see the reactions to it. In Birmingham the more sedate atmosphere and set meant it seemed almost out of place, whereas in the Manchester academy it really finished off the night. I hate to pick favourites, especially when my city loses out, but the Manchester gig really did offer a more rounded version of Jimmy Eat World’s repertoire.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Thursday, 7 February 2008
New Found Glory
Leeds Cockpit
7th February 2008
There’s something almost religious about seeing New Found Glory in such a small venue. The intimate settings of the cockpit contrast heavily with the huge venues NFG are playing as support to Paramore, and the hardcore fan base at the cockpit allows for a near perfect show. The fantastic mix of classic fan favourite songs and current covers from latest album From Screen to Stereo 2, New Found Glory know how to put on a show.
Support comes from The Conditions and You Me At Six. The epiletic inducing lighting during The Conditions set really detracted from their sound, but it was good to hear their tightly performed pop-rock sound on a proper support slot than on the Paramore shows where they were largely ignored. You Me At Six’s set is dogged by sound difficulties and resort to half covering Rihanna’s Umbrella – something which is becoming overdone in the genre. It’s not that either band are bad, it’s more that for a headline band who are pop-punk perfection, you’d expect the support bands to have a little of the uncontained ecstasy found in New Found Glory songs.
New Found Glory themselves play a perfect set with almost all fan classics, including a unique request for ‘2’s and 3’s’ from first album Nothing Gold Can Stay; an album which is usually ignored from NFG sets, but proves that the band are willing to please their fans regardless. The band banter on stage like they’re talking to old friends, joking that overweight guitarist Ian Crushinck and his pink towel turban should grace the covers of Men’s Health. The crowd laps up the songs, singing along with favourites like ‘Hit and Miss’ and the interaction with ‘Coming Home’ sounds hymn-like.
Their enthusiastic brand of unadulterated pop-punk puts New Found Glory at the top of their genre and this small show proves just how good they can be. Each song proves just how good they can be and how strong each album they produce sounds live. The crowd laps up everything on stage. There really are few gigs better than this.
~ * ~
NFG hung round the cockpit afterwards and chatted to fans, which was ace to get to say hi to one of my favourite bands. Also the music at the cockpit was awesome and there was just good song after good song, which is why we ended up leaving so late. Hey, they played Brand New twice, how could it not be good?
7th February 2008
There’s something almost religious about seeing New Found Glory in such a small venue. The intimate settings of the cockpit contrast heavily with the huge venues NFG are playing as support to Paramore, and the hardcore fan base at the cockpit allows for a near perfect show. The fantastic mix of classic fan favourite songs and current covers from latest album From Screen to Stereo 2, New Found Glory know how to put on a show.
Support comes from The Conditions and You Me At Six. The epiletic inducing lighting during The Conditions set really detracted from their sound, but it was good to hear their tightly performed pop-rock sound on a proper support slot than on the Paramore shows where they were largely ignored. You Me At Six’s set is dogged by sound difficulties and resort to half covering Rihanna’s Umbrella – something which is becoming overdone in the genre. It’s not that either band are bad, it’s more that for a headline band who are pop-punk perfection, you’d expect the support bands to have a little of the uncontained ecstasy found in New Found Glory songs.
New Found Glory themselves play a perfect set with almost all fan classics, including a unique request for ‘2’s and 3’s’ from first album Nothing Gold Can Stay; an album which is usually ignored from NFG sets, but proves that the band are willing to please their fans regardless. The band banter on stage like they’re talking to old friends, joking that overweight guitarist Ian Crushinck and his pink towel turban should grace the covers of Men’s Health. The crowd laps up the songs, singing along with favourites like ‘Hit and Miss’ and the interaction with ‘Coming Home’ sounds hymn-like.
Their enthusiastic brand of unadulterated pop-punk puts New Found Glory at the top of their genre and this small show proves just how good they can be. Each song proves just how good they can be and how strong each album they produce sounds live. The crowd laps up everything on stage. There really are few gigs better than this.
~ * ~
NFG hung round the cockpit afterwards and chatted to fans, which was ace to get to say hi to one of my favourite bands. Also the music at the cockpit was awesome and there was just good song after good song, which is why we ended up leaving so late. Hey, they played Brand New twice, how could it not be good?
Monday, 4 February 2008
Paramore and New Found Glory
Birmingham Carling Academy
4th February 2008
If ever there was an example of a band gaining mainstream recognition without the time to build a loyal fan base, then this show was it. Pop-punk veterans New Found Glory grossly overshadowed headliners Paramore, and the crowd knew it.
Another problem was the amount of bands playing and the lack of time. First band Conditions played as the majority of people entered the venue, to no fault of the crowd. Which meant that for the best part their set was entirely ignored, a shame as their set was good. Kids in Glass Houses received a better reception, possibly because they’ve more exposure here and their song ‘Me Me Me’ received moderate radio play.
There had also been great confusion over whether the Riot tour was a Paramore tour or a double headliner Paramore / New Found Glory. If this is the case then first headliners New Found Glory certainly stole the show. Clearly having a large proportion of fans in the crowd the atmosphere was electric. A set which ran through some of their classic songs and covers from their new album were an instant hit, including a guest performance from Hayley Williams on ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’.
Any atmosphere generated by New Found Glory was lost when a large proportion of the crowd went home and those left seemed only to be there only out of curiosity. Hayley Williams and co are certainly energetic on stage, but the atmosphere from the crowd lacked greatly – at times it felt more like watching a live performance on a large television than being there in person. Songs from current album ‘Riot’ were well received, but when Williams informed the crowd they were about to play songs from the first album there was little acknowledgement.
An odd atmosphere for a tour where the penultimate band on stage held the audiences attention more so than the main performance. Paramore aren’t bad, but that the show illustrated the entire loss of fan connection with a band that become big before they’ve earned their stripes.
4th February 2008
If ever there was an example of a band gaining mainstream recognition without the time to build a loyal fan base, then this show was it. Pop-punk veterans New Found Glory grossly overshadowed headliners Paramore, and the crowd knew it.
Another problem was the amount of bands playing and the lack of time. First band Conditions played as the majority of people entered the venue, to no fault of the crowd. Which meant that for the best part their set was entirely ignored, a shame as their set was good. Kids in Glass Houses received a better reception, possibly because they’ve more exposure here and their song ‘Me Me Me’ received moderate radio play.
There had also been great confusion over whether the Riot tour was a Paramore tour or a double headliner Paramore / New Found Glory. If this is the case then first headliners New Found Glory certainly stole the show. Clearly having a large proportion of fans in the crowd the atmosphere was electric. A set which ran through some of their classic songs and covers from their new album were an instant hit, including a guest performance from Hayley Williams on ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’.
Any atmosphere generated by New Found Glory was lost when a large proportion of the crowd went home and those left seemed only to be there only out of curiosity. Hayley Williams and co are certainly energetic on stage, but the atmosphere from the crowd lacked greatly – at times it felt more like watching a live performance on a large television than being there in person. Songs from current album ‘Riot’ were well received, but when Williams informed the crowd they were about to play songs from the first album there was little acknowledgement.
An odd atmosphere for a tour where the penultimate band on stage held the audiences attention more so than the main performance. Paramore aren’t bad, but that the show illustrated the entire loss of fan connection with a band that become big before they’ve earned their stripes.
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