“NEW YEAR, NEW PLACES, NEW FACES TO MAKE BABIES WITH”
I may secretly – unknowingly even to self – be a punk rock music fan – just a little bit, admittedly.
Originally, I had my reservations. Openly, I am not a fan of All Time Low, and long had I moved on from the mainstream, ready-made radio-friendly formulae. The concert venue added some additional icing on the cake – the last concert-going experience spent at The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel was for Nelly Furtado, and waiting two hours in line for a show to start could have very well tested my patience to a whole new all-time low (pun shamelessly and completely intended). I should’ve and would continue to stay the night with my guard let down, thankfully.
Local band Dropbeat Heartbeat had the privilege to open for one of its musical influences, and if I had known the five young lads well, they should be more than thrilled to be given this opportunity to, and might have possibly peed in their pants while being lost in the moment. They snatched the chance to get the mostly youthful crowd pumping, with a few tricks up their sleeves, inclusive of free merchandise giveaways. They delivered a fair-to-fine range of pop-punk melodies that most seemed to rejoice and recognize alongside to, despite the couple of rude interventions of “All Time Low! All Time Low!” chants that the owners of which should be ashamed. They certainly proved their band statement of being not only performers but entertainers, and to give one hell of a show.
Speaking of hell, it broke loose when All Time Low was unleashed onstage. The grounds literally shook with every unanimous pounding of jumping feet, so much that I feared for my own safety, while half worried for a possible re-enactment of the 1986 Hotel New World disaster. Bras were thrust onstage and hung onto microphone stands. Everyone seemed to know every lyric to every song and were singing along, making me feel stuck out like a sore thumb. Lead guitarist Jack Barakat was pouncing around like a predator, prompting crowd interactivity, even though it was uncalled for as there were unforceful sing/play-along participation.
Fan favourites were well-received, like concert opener “Somewhere In Neverland”, “Stella”, “If These Sheets Were States”, the melodramatic ballads of “Remembering Sunday” and “Therapy”, and ending the night with the second last song and their biggest hit “Weightless”. All Time Low were communicative, with no holds barred, like exchanging words and conversations with long lost friends. The impact of the band-fan relationship seeped through and was heartfelt; this despite only half, or less than half the venue’s capacity being filled up.
I was particularly fascinated by 3 adorable aunties jumping right next to me, and I was drawn to them and it showed by my standing closer to marvel and muse at them getting lost in the process of music. And this proved that age is only a number, and I was the one that night that was like an old fart and an old retard.
More so, it reminded me of a time when I was young and juvenile – of chasing down musicians; of queuing up 12 hours beforehand for the best standing position possibly obtainable for seeing everything upfront; of singing Coldplay’s “Yellow” with stage fright for the exchange of ticket passes. Most importantly, I remembered being young. It was nostalgic.
[CJ]
Thanks to Launch Entertainment for making this review possible.