Yellowcard live – March 7th Leeds, 10th Newcastle and 11th Manchester UK Tour

When this tour was announced back in September of last year I realised very quickly two things. One i needed to go to as many dates as I could and two, I would have to hope they had more than 30 minutes as they were to be supporting All Time Low. (The wrong way around in my opinion yet 14 year old girls do sell tickets).

Fast Forward six months and the time finally came to see a band that had and still massively influences me in many ways. 40 minutes was to be their alloted time slot and night after night that I watched the nine song set it was as if I was listening to these songs for the first time again and for a couple of the songs it was the first time that they were played in the UK. My first surprise in Leeds was the low key stage layout. No back drop and only head units visible. This all left my mind immediately as soon as the lights went down and within a few seconds Keys guitar rips into the intro to “Lights and Sounds”. His guitar packing a lot more punch than I had imagined is then joined by the rest of the band as Yellowcard kick into life dragging everyone along with them. I along with many others had been waiting for this for way too long. Crowd participation is clear from the start with the roaring bridge building up to the screamed vocal “I’ve got a way!” by every YC fan in the room. The band then go straight into Ocean Avenue opener “Way Away” with the intro again meeting a loud roar from the fans. Now we get to see Mackins violin taking a little more a prominent place on stage as the intro kicks in. The wall of sound is huge. Less than half way through the song and YC have the entire crowd in the palm of their hand. Sean on his first tour with the band on bass is fully settled already with all the bass fills and vocals down to perfection already, just a backflip from Mackin and the older YC fan would find themselves back in 04 but tonight its all about the music.

Sticking with Ocean Avenue Mackin flies into my personal favourite “Believe”. This in Newcastle is played to perfection, LP pulling the band along as he always does so effortlessly. Mendez is calm on lead guitar. What amazes me is just how tight the band is. Maybe amaze is the wrong word as I knew they would be. I think awe would be better used. Three songs in and the band jumps to Paper Walls to play “Fighting” and “Five becomes Four”. Having seen the set list in advance I was surprised at these two songs being played until I was able to see how huge they sound in a live setting. The thing with YC songs is that anyone can pick up a backing vocal or chorus quickly and be singing along in no time and Fighting is an example of this.

Ryan apologizes to fans for the lack of touring and this is clearly appreciated and seems genuine every night. This isn’t just a route thing to say to please fans. Two new songs please YC fans and with the first being “Hang You Up” many younger ATL fans are given a breather. The YC fans have been insane tonight and are not set on letting this set just pass them by. “For You and Your Denial” follows and this is met with more positivity than Hang You Up simply as it has been available to buy for longer. Here we see the new YC at full throttle. Older songs are played to perfection yes but for YC they should be. It is what people expect. There seems to be a slight glint in the eyes of the whole band as they play this song. Its new, its fresh and gives the band a chance to stretch their legs on songs that they have written together as a new unit. Seven songs in and time is now left for two more songs.

3,500 people are packed in the Apollo in manchester, YC fans are crammed in the front sweating, younger fans on the barrier have been removed almost passing out and YC are just over three quarters of the way through their set. The band will go back to Ocean Avenue for their last two songs. “Only one” followed by “Ocean Avenue”. If any fan had any energy left, YC were making sure it would not be so in roughly 8 minutes time. Only one is met with fans singing their lungs out as does Key in every chorus and by this point the band know that yet again, they have reminded another town who they are and have shown the newer bands of the night that they have some ground to go before reaching their level. Its not about the size of the venue or current popularity. Its about writing songs that last. Most of the kids in here tonight were not in double figures when Ocean Avenue was released yet the reception to the song is the same as when it was released back in 2003. With Ocean avenue comes the end of an awesome set and three really really good sets in 5 days. Its hard not to be biased when its your favourite band but there is not a person in any of those venues who cannot say that YC were and are just at a different level. Over three nights I was able to watch Imitators and the imitated. You can never beat the originals.

Transit – Keep This To Yourself

With a month to go before Transit arrive in the UK on tour with Man Overboard, I decided that I would look a little closer at the album they will be promoting this December. When first reading the track listing on “Keep This To Yourself” the first thing i noticed was that all but one of the tracks are under the three minute mark. Something you would normally associate with old punk acts but Transit are so much more than that and this album shows that. Every track different in intensity yet the same goal is achieved on every track; songs that just flow with ease. I could feel how every song would sound live as I listened to it. This in part is owed to the simplicity of their music. I don’t mean that the band lacks technical ability or sound depth, not at all. Completely the opposite. You can just feel how the guitars would ring in your ears, sense how the bass parts would fill the gaps and feel the punch of the drums shaking the floor and pulling the songs along. That may sound dumb but if you were to take other records and do the same thing you will not always be able to do this.

The whole album took me back to the feelings i had for music five or six years ago and this was and still is a strange feeling but it is one that I don’t mind at all. “Please Head North” got my attention straight away. The introduction riff for me is pure genius. It is one of those riffs that I could play or even write but it just wouldn’t sound as cool as it does on this song. The rest of the song does its part in maintaining the quality of the introduction. “I Was Going To Cross This Out” was the next song that really stood out to me. The introduction reminded me of Billy Talent but as soon as the verse begins that faded away only for the song to turn again as the verse riff became sharper, full of attitude and punch. These kinds of things are what I love about this album. The songs are short but they have so much in them to keep you happy. Tempo changes in abundance, long, swaying vocals complemented perfectly by the backing vocals enables this album to run its course without flaw. The title track “Keep This To Yourself” is a belter. It may even be my favourite track on the album. Yes there is very little in the form of lyrics but that does not matter. It is musically spot on. A lead guitarists dream in that there is so much time to express yourself. What I love about this song is just how tight it sounds. The pauses, the cuts in sound and then the gang vocal towards the end rounds it off perfectly.

I could write a section on every song of this album but the best way to fully understand this album is to simply listen to it. You will not be disappointed and the title of the album is just daft. Nobody would ever do that!

TRANSIT

Leeds, December 10th 2010 = EXCITED

 

Avenged Sevenfold- Nightmare

When waiting for this album to be released, disaster struck and Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan passed away. I was absolutely gutted. It bothered me for days in fact. I owed a lot of my musical ability to A7X having spent hours learning and playing along to Waking The Fallen and City of Evil. News the Mike Portnoy was going to be filling in for Jimmy filled the gap nicely and so I waited eagerly for this album. Once it arrived I wanted to love it so much but it just didn’t happen for me at all.

I knew this album would be musically tight and sound. Thats just the way it is with A7X. Watch any in studio video and you will see Synyster Gates flip at a seemingly perfect take and try it again. This album just seems too bleak. I understand the circumstances were horrific but at the same time this album was musically finished before he passed on except maybe “So Far Away”. I don’t say this with any intent of disrespect to A7x. Completely the opposite. This was just an album that didn’t do much for me.

Opening track “Nightmare” has to be the best track on the album. I don’t say this as it was the first released or because it is currently most popular. It just carries the aggression that is normally there in A7x tracks. The drums are hard hitting, the dueling guitars are there and a smooth chorus in the middle albeit with a slightly cheesy vocal that I was not too keen on.

As the album rolls on through its program it seems to decline in intensity and mellow down. “Welcome to the Family” has definately been a grower for me. If not coming close to “Nightmare” in the ranks of preference. Most of that may be down to The sweeping guitars woven throughout the track by Synyster Gates. The solos are good but I don’t see anything outdoing his masterpiece on “Afterlife” from their self titled album.

This albums carries too many grunty open note verse patterns for me. When you compare this with arguably their best album to date “City of Evil” (musically anyway) they seem to be heading down the lane of most other southern rock styled bands. Even drum/guitar parts from “Natural Born Killer” carry a very similar air to that of “Almost Easy”. Its all a little confusing for me.

“Fiction” again leaves me a little lost. Even now I don’t know what to say about it. Lyrically it can be seen that it is a personal song and I fully respect that. It just seems strange. Almost a little eerie?

I have a huge respect for this album and for this band. Respect however does not mean I will say I like an album just to fit in. Do i still love a7x? Yes. Will I always be waiting eagerly for each album? Yes.

It’s been too long…

Seeing as I have a lot more free time I’m going to comment on music news, things I see, dig up from the past and hopefully blog a little more! Speaking of digging up from the past, a band I never gave time to until recently Senses fail. The band on all of my Drive-Thru records stickers and posters yet i never gave them a listen until now.

The Album that I have on repeat at the moment “Let It Enfold You” has done exactly that. Don’t get me wrong, I know as well as the next person that they are average at best when performing live (most of this down to Buddys ability to whine like a 15 year old school girl on the blob) but this album has some melodies that I would have loved to have written myself. The first track to take me by surprise was “Choke on this”. Lyrically it is not the best and some would even say childish but the melodies and choruses are spot on. The cutting brinds me lyrically of early Brand New tracks such as Seventy Times Seven.

Title track “Let it Enfold You” seems a little more grown up on three fronts, lyrically, musically and melodically. From roughly 3 minutes 30 onwards you get the build up for the big chorus at the end which is spot on. It flows perfectly with simple yet grand guitars and hooks all over the melody to finish the song off and that it what I love about the song. Buddys whiney vocals seem to disappear and the real potential of Senses Fail comes out into view. Other tracks such as “Martini Kiss” add to this with a screamo edge which sometimes seems out of place but I’ll go with it!

I’m not going to say they are my new favourite band as that would be complete rubbish. I am however happy that i was pleasantly surprised by this album and if i can find a few more surprises in old albums I once brushed aside I have nothing to lose have I?

Listening to this album reminded me of how good a line up Drive-Thru Records had. Shame they blew it all really. All the bands from the early 2000′s that I loved were on this label and not one of them has a good thing to say about it looking back. Thankfully things move forward and those bands are still here today!

Moneen, The Red Tree

Having seen this band support Brand New back in early 2004, I never gave much thought to this band or their music and brushed them aside as another support band. Looking back that was definately a mistake. This album is, for me, the reason why. Long, swaying vocal melodies that will firmly embed themselves in your head are found in abundance whilst listening to this album. This album sounds nothing like that which i heard live almost five years ago and this is definately something that I appreciate. This is not because their earlier music was poor, it is simply a progression from their music in 2004.

Something that more and more bands are shying away from today is progression into something new whilst holding the roots that made the band who they originally were. Quick songs with catchy hooks seem to be the way forward and on the whole people are buying it. It is becoming harder to find albums that progress and get better every time you listen to it. With this album Moneen have joined the likes of bands like Thrice, who are not scared to move forwards but relish the opportunity of making something a little different.

This album has everything. Hard hitting guitars, intricate lead guitar lines, sweeping vocal melodies and a message which is thought provoking. Again moving away from the cheap frills of emptiness found on most records which struggle to stay out of the bedroom. As one thinks so he is.

The band fires into “Don’t Ever Tell Locke What He Can’t Do” and this song is fast yet smooth at the same time. Its a classic opening track and shows hints of what is to come throughout the rest of the album. Just shyof three minutes long, this is a great opening track. The long vocal throughout the chorus really standing out throughout the whole song.

Both Kenny Bridges and Chris Hughes connect really well at a vocal level throughout this album, writing melodies which really suit their vocal ranges and vocal styles and this adds to the natural sound that comes across on every track of this album.

Other songs to look out for on this album are ” The Day No One Needed To Know”, ” The Frightening Reality Of The Fact That We Will All Have To Grow Up And Settle Down One Day”, “The East Has Stolen What The West May Want” and album closer “The Song I swore To Never Sing”.

On the whole this is a very well written album and with every listen you will find new things that you didn’t notice before and that is one of the things i love about this album. Give it time and it wont disappoint. If you don’t have time you can always dig through the bargain bins at your local HMV.

Set Your Goals, Mutiny!

Whilst I was in France Set Your Goals churned out “Mutiny!”. Their first full length album and what an album it is. When first listening to the opening track “Work In Progress”, I was a little unsure as to what to expect as I was waiting for hard hitting, racing guitars with Michael Ambrose driving the band along at 300mph on the drums. To hear an acoustic guitar at the beginning of this track surprised me a little. Only a little as it only takes 1 min 15 secs for this album to grab hold of you and start running. This album flies.

The vocals sound a little weak coming from Matt who never really seems to push anything out, resting in his comfort zone. Jordan however is clearly pushing all he has into these songs but this is what makes Set Your goals so good. This contrasting call and response throughout this album is so tight and well fitted.

 The fast biting drums and alternating guitar rhythms in “We do it for the money, OBVIOUSLY!” are a perfect building block for “Dead men tell no tales”. This song really creates the bond between the band and the listener as the lyrics are almost a prep talk to the listener who can decide to belt up for the ride or be left behind in the dirt. Big lines such as “Down here is OUR time” and “OUR music we will shine” invite the listener in as the band prepares to seal the deal with ” If YOU feel it too then let it out now”.

The title track for the album follows with no break in the music and its catchy intro never grows old. Here the band states their views on the music industry and their simple desire to play music for themselves and the listener as lines are repeated from “Dead men tell no tales”. This song for me is probably the best song I have heard since coming back home. The way the lyrics make you smile and want to scream with them at the top of your voice as your chest expands with excitement is something that hasn’t happened to me for a long time.

Something clear to see on this album is the fact that they have left out the filler food songs and focused on songs which have meaning to the band and this personal attatchment comes through in every song. Whether it be ” An Old Book Misread” which brings up the bands lack of religious belief in a way that is direct but in no way offensive to fans who may have a religious background or even “This Very Moment” which looks at relationships worth fighting for. Forget the old girls who got away, girls who cheated on you or girls you never had, this takes a look at real life.

“Echoes” is the cherry on a cake that even Dan would have to put in his Road Noms because this album is that good. Its tight, its solid, its fast, fun and serious all at once. This is the music I have been waiting for. Music that comes with feeling, not a business plan behind it to make money. I think we could all benefit from a few more honest efforts like this one from Set Your Goals.

All Time Low, September 30th 2009 Manchester Academy.

Two years away in a foreign land leads to high expectations when returning home to catch up on two years of music dearly missed. It was with this anticipation that I hastily bought tickets to see All Time Low. How bad could they be? Name taken from a New found Glory Lyric, huge coverage in music magazines and catchy pop punk songs as said to be their strong point. Something I had been looking forward to since August 2007. 

Arriving at the academy I was quickly reminded of the scene I had left behind as floods of kids ran around the venue like bees on steroids. Being able to tell which were the guys and which were the girls was a different story all together. Finally live music was coming my way. The Audition flew into their set list, throwing in a cover song to get the fans moving a little more. Not being a huge fan of The audition I stood near the back and took in their set, not overly impressed but not dissapointed. The Huge excess of sound was not going to be helping any band which played on that stage tonight.

All Time Low would eventually take to the stage and fly into a set which really seemed like old news. The reason why I write this is simply because I feel that I’ve seen so many bands fall into this routine of forcing crowd response by any means possible. For All Time Low this means trying to take a leaf out of blink 182′s book and for me it just was not happening. The songs themselves were not bad at all. Starting with “Lost in Stereo” we are taken on a deafening ride through three of their albums and this is something that I was impressed with. Their balancing of the  albums would have been pleasing for fans both old and new as their last three albums are given a fair amount of attention from this set.  Haing flown through a few more fast hitting tunes they slow things down with an acoustic version of “Jasey Rae” and this is met with equal amounts of approval from the fans here tonight.

Favourites such as “Poppin champagne” and “weightless” would follow before the band left the stage awaiting to be called back out as two songs are clearly missing from this set. After a slight delay which was probably beneficial for all to regain some form of hearing ability, All Time Low appear on stage, ready to finish of the night. Soon to be single is the firs offering laid on the table as “amned If I do ya, Damned If I Dont” rips though the Academys’ speakers. Another flawless song under their belts all leading up to “Dear Maria Count Me In”. This is met with the loudest roars of the night and as usual the breakdown would result in the guitar techs playing guitars as Alex and Jack jump down to the crowds to sing the bridge with the melting fans on the front row. The Song finished and the set is done. I leave the Academy a little unsure as to what had just happened. It was not the best gig I’ve ever been to. Not even close.

I feel that the bands were let down by poor sound management tonight and a lack of creativity. The crude jokes from Jack were being used by Tom Delonge before he was born. All Time Low have risen quickly to be at this point but as we all know they can fall back down in half the time. Lets see what happens.