Fall Out Boy @ EntertainmentCentre, Adelaide (17/02/09)

Tue 24th Feb, 2009 in Gig Reviews

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Surprisingly often, having being to a gig, I’ve found myself chatting to someone later who was at the same gig but our recollections of the show have differed so much that I wondered if it was the same show at all. After the Fall Out Boy show at the Entertainment Centre it really struck me how it was possible for two people to have a completely different experience at the same show.

Upon arriving, I discovered that my ticket was for an assigned seat in the stands. I figured I might use the seat for a while and then move into general admission when I felt the need to get into the action. Unfortunately, I found that security were taking these seating arrangements very seriously and I was stuck in the stands for the night. For anyone reading this who doesn’t see my predicament, maybe because they like to sit down for a rock show…this is NOT the way to experience a rock gig!!! This is the way to see a movie!!!

The crowd on this particular night to see Fall out Boy were noticeably younger than the usual rock gig crowd; not quite – œ*The Veronicas**’ young, but there were a lot of pre teens at the show. From my seat in the stands, this was extremely noticeable as I sat amongst families with giggly, screaming teenagers while vendors walked the aisles selling flashing novelties for the kids. It felt like I was at the circus rather than a rock concert. While the bands played, I watched the crowd down the front, sweating, pushing up against each other, and going crazy, while I viewed the proceedings jealously wishing I was there too.

As for the performances themselves, I arrived in my seat in time to catch the end of the set from Florida’s Hey Monday (whatever happened to a local support act?). They were received warmly by the large crowd as would any inoffensive pop rock act in front of this particular audience.

Second support act, The All-American Rejects, were received with as much excitement as the headline act and they deserved it. They performed like a headline band. Their energetic stage moves mixed with a set list made up of instantly likeable tunes made for a great warm up set for the main attraction, Fall Out Boy. Hopefully AAR make a return to Australia soon as a headline act.

When Fall Out Boy hit the stage with Thnks fr th Mmrs, to the deafening roar of a room full of teenage girls, the first thing I noticed was how huge their stage looked. They certainly went for the minimalist look. There were no amps, effects racks…none of the usual rock gig stage essentials. All that shared the stage with the band themselves was the drum kit, their guitars, and a few simple light racks right at the back at the huge stage. The lack of Marshall stacks, combined with my seated position made it hard for me to truly feel the rock n roll vibe at this show, however, Fall Out Boy sounded fantastic, they looked fantastic, and everyone in general admission must have been having an absolute ball. There were a few obvious highlights from the set including current hit I Don’t Care, complete with flashing neon-lit guitars, and their huge song from their last album Infinity on High, _This Ain’t a Scene…_which had the huge crowd singing along at the top of their lungs.

Fall out Boy really managed to rock the Entertainment Centre which made me want to see what they could do in a small atmospheric rock venue. That would have been amazing! Unfortunately I was left with a slightly sour taste in my mouth, when, before the encore, they announced that they had to leave soon because they had a flight to catch to get to Melbourne. Then, upon returning for the obligatory encore, they announced that they had just enough time to do three or four songs more before they had to catch that flight to Melbourne. It’s always nice when a big international band comes to Adelaide and at least pretends that Adelaide is their favourite city in Australia, rather than giving the impression that they can’t wait to get out of here!!

Maybe I’m just too sensitive. Maybe I was just cranky because I didn’t get to rock out as much as I wanted to.

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE