All Time Low - Rock City - 11/12/2013 - Review

Baltimore pop-punks All Time Low were eagerly anticipated in

Nottingham, as a myriad of passionate teenagers braved the cold from as early

as 8am to ensure that they were as close as possible to the band, eager for

their ultimate fan experience.  

At 7pm the doors opened, and American pop-rock band The Summer Set opened with

catchy beats and sing along lyrics. UK group Lower than Atlantis followed, with

edgier, louder, less-clean-cut music and considerably more 'rock n' roll'

behaviour than the previous act. Neither act failed to disappoint.

A restless and impatient crowd awaited the band through the brief break, with

chants of 'All Time Low! All Time Low!, which continued for a good few minutes,

with the fans getting more and more excited with each word uttered.

Soon after, All Time Low exploded like dynamite onto the

stage with their infectious newly released single 'Somewhere In Neverland', accompanied by the piercing screams of

2,000 hardcore fans that filled Rock City up to its entirety. By the end of the

first two songs, most fans were slick with sweat; sharing mutual smiles

alongside the band themselves, with vocalist Alex Gaskarth shouting: "You guys

are way f*****g better than Newcastle were!"

The band's energetic, 17-song set, featured nearly all of their biggest hits,

including 'Weightless', 'Dear Maria, Count Me In' and 'Lost In Stereo'. Not to forget fan

favourites 'Backseat Serenade' and 'Therapy', where the crowd sung along so

loud and so beautifully that Gaskarth's vocals were almost drowned out. A few

tear-stained faces lurked in the audience, and it just shows how much a band

that jokes about their listeners' nipples can really mean to their fans. ("2,000 fans? That means there's  4,000 nipples in this room!")

The band, also comprising of guitarist Jack Barakat, bassist Zack Merrick and

drummer Rian Dawson, played perfectly throughout the night, working each

instrument with considerable ease and sounding as good as they do on their five

albums. They engaged with the crowd during the breaks, cracking their trademark

crude jokes before going back to infecting the crowd with their feel-good

music. They didn't lack in energy, confidence or happiness, resulting in an

unforgettable show.

-Tasha Shipston