All Time Low
Where? Brixton Academy
When? 8th March 2014
What? Love Like War Tour
My eighth time seeing All Time Low
and I can safely say that they have yet to disappoint. After selling out
Brixton Academy after minimal hours on sale, the band return to the UK ready
and willing to blow their fans minds. As always Jack Barakat’s energy
continuously makes you question how much he has had to drink before coming on
stage, however his energy and appeal is what endlessly keeps the fans on their
feet and head banging. His quirky humour never fails to make the crowd laugh,
whether with him or at him the band still have yet to work out. The drumming of
Rian Dawson doesn’t seem to drain at any point throughout the show, his
enthusiasm and drive control the heavy beat subtly manipulating the crowd’s
bodies to either jump, sway or clap. Furthermore, never once does his ability
hinder from tiredness, and to those who say that drumming is easy take a look
at Dawson’s technique…looks more like a workout than anything! Speaking of work
outs, Zack Merrick appeals to his female fans in a tight t-shirt emphasising
his muscle, in which in this week’s kerrang! Magazine issue he admits working
out to be his obsession, I can tell you it definitely shows! Merrick arguably
is known as the quiet Low, let’s be honest you can’t really be louder than
Gaskarth or Barakat, he continues to develop this persona, letting his fans
aware of his gratitude through gestures and smiles. Now, Mr. Alex Gaskarth
continues to steal the hearts of his fans, especially through his very
gratifying speech later in the night reassures his fans how true they are to
him and the band. What’s more Gaskarth cannot help to cause the audience to
dramatically transferred between emotions so quickly, from laughing and his and
Jack’s strange love to bringing threatening tears to the eyes of listeners
during the acoustic playing of “Therapy”.
One thing I particularly like about
this band? They never fail to make the crowd
 |
| Photograph by @elmakias |
to have a good time, nor do they
seem to let the idea of performing day in and day out to become dull or boring.
Instead they continue to play every show like it’s their last. Personally, I
can see how the band has grown up during the years, however they have still
managed to pull of the high school appeal, in which their music has meaning yet
some can be carefree and just out for a good time; some bands whom reach the
level in which All Time Low are at now tend to let their music take the detour
to completely serious and forget where they came from and who they are. Not
ATL, they still let their music express what the band truly stand for, and
throughout the years have let their sound mature naturally. A key thing for me last night was
that their set list was perfect in the sense that it covered every album they have created, thus
appealing to both old and new fans. Moreover, they chose a variety of songs
that are ‘classic ATL set listing’ such as Dear
Maria and Damned If I Do Ya to
songs that might not have as much credit as they deserve, such as Vegas.
Despite how many times I have seen
them their shows never get old, in fact it is completely the opposite, their
shows always end too quickly for my liking. Step by step All Time Low are
taking over the world. But their way. Not through major labels, instead taking
a stand and doing things their way, and from Rebel Yell we salute them.
