Fall Out Boy, The All AmericanRejects, Hey Monday @ BEC,Brisbane, (20/02/09)

Sat 21st Feb, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Arriving at the Entertainment Centre, its easy to see the category that the fans fall into. Everywhere you look, there are screaming, giggling girls and too-cool-for-school – œemo’ boys. Accompanied by the occasional parent or older sibling, these teens are absolutely pumped to jump around for their musical idols.

Heading into the main arena of the venue, there isn’t much time between the doors opening, and the first band, Hey Monday hitting the stage. They have an amazing energy and lead singer Cassadee Pope leads the five piece from Florida as they get the fans warmed up with their smooth pop rock tunes. How You Love Me Now in particular gets the crowd moving, and with the sudden appearance of Pete Wentz during the set, the crowd was loving them by the end of their time on stage.

The All American Rejects hit the stage next, and from start to finish, they did not disappoint. This reviewer had heard mixed things about their shows, but tonight the boys were on. Kicking off with Swing Swing, the crowd screamed their approval, but it was the second song that made the place erupt. Dirty Little Secret was barely two bars in, and the screams from the dirty little teens almost drowned Ritter and the rest of the band out. The scene is set though, and The All American Rejects bounce and bop around the stage for the rest of their 30 minute set, getting the fans well and truly ready for the band they had come to see.

Fall Out Boy leap on to the stage, promising a huge 90 minute set, full of old and new hits and plenty of action. They start with a few of their number one hits, before kicking into their first single of the new album Folie à Deux, I Don’t Care. The thing that doesn’t make sense with this band though, is their ability to entertain in their film clips, yet onstage they can appear stiff and formal. Patrick Stump is an extremely talented vocalist and musician, but he doesn’t play to the crowd or entertain. That’s left to backing vocalist and bass guitarist, Pete Wentz. Wentz talks to the crowd and gets the right response. Although, during some of the bands older tracks such as Sugar, We’re Goin Down, Stump is much more active and bounces around the stage. Joe Trohman, lead guitar and drummer Andy Hurley perform well though, and with some rock star leaps and hair throwing, they entertain during the entire set.

Altogether, the band are polished and they play their hit singles without missing a beat and the fans do love them. But as the night draws to a close and Fall Out Boy finish off with a track that’s not a number one single, the crowd begins to leave mid song. It’s obvious that the die-hard fans loved every second, but it appears the ones that needed to be wooed were left feeling just that little bit unsatisfied.