Fall Out Boy in Birmingham

Santa Claus brought us Fall Out Boy tickets, and it was quite the coup. Nathan especially didn’t think he would have a chance to go, and we were pleased that the surprise was so effective. We went last night.

Both PVRIS and AWOLNATION were enjoyable openers, and Fall Out Boy took the stage about 9:10. The pace of the show was pleasingly relentless. They’re not big stage rappers, so while it checked in at only about an hour and forty minutes, we got a 22-song set. Awesome.

Fall Out Boy reminds me of Cheap Trick in one big way: they hit so much harder live than they do on a record. All the same great grooves are there, but the guitars are crunchier. The vocals are throatier. The rhythm section pounds with power, but not annoyance. We all had a marvelous time.

fob3 — Effective stage production and an unpretentious, seriously-delivered performance.

We didn’t know quite what to expect on demographics, and it turned out we were one of the dominant ones: GenX parents bringing their kids. It was a friendly and polite crowd, deeply digging the rock ‘n’ roll in the house. (Although the budding old man in me noticed a time or two how ridiculous little girls sound saying fuck and shit every other word.) It was fun to see folks so into the show.

fob2 — There are way fewer lighters in the crowd than there used to be. Lots of phones, though.

I told Nathan I was proud of him for getting into it without worrying about whether he looked cool or not. You’re not in the same room with your favorite band often. Let loose.

The rock show from my childhood lives. There is more technology. It costs a bit more (though not outrageously so in last night’s case; we sat for $60 each or so). And I can drink beer now. But the experience is essentially intact. I’m glad my kids get to have it.

fob4 — FOB even blowed stuff up for “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark.”

Fall Out Boy in Birmingham

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