Page 59 - Black Velvet Issue 88

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ALL TIME LOW / GOOD CHARLOTTE / AGAINST THE CURRENT – BIRMINGHAM BARCLAYCARD ARENA, 13.02.16
Against The Current are a bright new hope for the pop rock scene. while Chrissy speaks about being outsiders before the song of the same
Scrambling out of Poughkeepsie, New York, the three-piece hoist glis- name. The backing tracks seem a little much during the chorus of ‘Out-
tening sunshine to your ears. Fronted by Chrissy Costanza, the trio bring siders’. It would have sounded as good, if not better, without them. All in
to mind Paramore in places, although that’s not a bad thing – it shows all, Against The Current are a very talented band, both live and on disc,
how talented this band is. Chrissy’s vocals are top-notch and she makes and will go far.
good use of the stage during songs such as ‘Running With The Wild Good Charlotte are back – hurray! Tonight it sounds like they’ve
Things’, the infectiously cute ‘Talk’ and even the slower ‘Dreaming Alone’, never been away, as if they never went on hiatus and the last few years
which Chrissy tells the crowd is supposed to be a duet, but as she’s never happened. Songs such as ‘The Anthem’, ‘The River’ and Girls &
singing alone, to feel free to join in with her. Cell phones light up the Boys’ sound as good as they always did. The band almost look the same
arena as the audience sways along. The band’s cover of ‘Uptown Funk’ as they used to as well – although Joel and Benji do have beards now.
goes down well with the groovy song being sung along by the crowd The boys chat a bit in between songs with Benji joking about Jack of All
Time Low being his son. Jack comes out dur-
ing the final song, the bouncefest that is
‘Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous’, to a huge
cheer. “If we come back to Birmingham later
this year are you going to come and hang out
with us?” they ask. Of course the answer is a
resounding yes. Bring it on.
The 4 members of All Time Low rise up
from underneath the stage smiling out to the
crowd. Opening with ‘Kids In The Dark’, the
lighting IS pretty dark and blue. Things
brighten up with ‘A Love Like War’. The band
have added pyro with vertical blasts of fire
every now and then. Their set gets bouncier
and more fun as it goes on. Songs such as
‘Backseat Serenade’ and ‘Lost In Stereo’ are
sing-alongs while Alex Gaskarth and Jack
Barakat start putting on items that are thrown
up on stage such as glasses, fluffy ears and
a light up tiara. At one point an audience
member holds up a miniature blow up doll,
which Alex sees and gets hold of. Jack then
does rude things with it. Alex asks how they
have gotten to where they are, performing to
10,000 people while having a doll performing
fellacio on itself! Joel Madden joins the band
on stage for the song ‘Bail Me Out’, which he
and Benji co-wrote with All Time Low. It’s right
then that you can hear a difference in vocals;

Joel’s are rough and gravelly when Alex’s
are harmonious and pure. “You guys are my
bros for life,” Joel says to All Time Low. Alex
talks about being front row at a Good Char-
lotte show, and how he looked up to the
band, with Joel then adding, “Well now we
look up to All Time Low”. The bromance is
strong!
Alex performs ‘Therapy’ alone, followed
by ‘Missing You’, a song going out to anyone
struggling with an addiction. For the encore
Jack comes on stage wearing just a pair of
Union Jack boxers, which is quite amusing
– although he changes back into his usual
clothes in time for the final song ‘Dear Maria,
Count Me In’, which sees Alex and Jack
throwing off their guitars, with Jack climbing
into the crowd. Yes, probably best not to go
into the crowd wearing just boxers. All Time
Low are our addiction – and that addiction
is not a bad one to have.
YYYYY
Alex Gaskarth (All Time Low)
Photo By Shari Black Velvet
CONCERTS