I feel that you really had to like the bands that are playing to enjoy the concert. It was an ecletic group, to say the least. Well, atleast in my opinion.
The bands were (and in this order) You Me At Six, The Secret Handshake, Set Your Goals, Mayday Parade and then The Academy Is...
I went with my friend Alex who looks like Mitchel Musso.
Anyways, he was mainly there for Set Your Goals. I wasn't really there for anyone. My other friend Abby was going to come too, but she got really sick and had to bail. So still went with Alex because a) I told him I would go b) I was his ride and c) I'd already paid for my ticket so I might as well.
And I don't totally regret it. Actually, I don't regret it at all. I like being able to expose myself to different bands and different music. The Fall Ball was really the way to do it.
All the bands were completely different from each other. You Me At Six was pop-punky and british, which is definitely one way to win over the American
I just said 'fresh'. I will never say 'fresh' again.
After THS, Set Your Goals took the stage. I'm not really sure what to call them. They're sort of this emerging genre of music. It's like, hardcore punk, but not screamo. And then it's defnitely rock, but they're not classic. They were good. They reminded me very much of New Found Glory (and if I recall correctly, they have some sort of connection to them. I read something in AP about SYG) and slightly more hardcore version of Hit The Lights (a personal favorite). Alex really liked seeing them. I think the most entertaining part of SYG was the circle pits that formed. Lots of boys who don't know how to dance and don't want to learn how to dance, so they just flail their limbs as they ricochet off of others. I think that was probably the wildest part in the crowd (I was in the balcony for the first time. I wasn't really in a moshing mood and I had a feeling that I'd want to stay clear of the crowd for this concerts. I was right, too).
To be completely honest, I felt that SYG was pretty awkward on stage. Good music, and I love the vocals. But two vocalists? I know it's hard enough for a vocalist without an instrument to find things to do on stage, but having to vocalists without a guitar or something made the stage seem too full and awkward. Matt Wilson (is that his name? The smaller one) was probably the most awkward. I could tell he has energy, but I felt that the bigger vocalist was better.
Mayday Parade was on after Set Your Goals. Okay, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't really understand the Mayday Parade fascination. They are a pretty boy band. They're an alternative, pop-punk (light on the pop) band. And there is nothing wrong with that. All Time Low wreak pop-punk. However, and this is my opinion, all of Mayday's songs sound very similar. Well, maybe not very, but they are similar. I don't know, I could be being a huge hypocrit.
I did not stay for The Academy Is... because I didn't really care about being at the concert anyways and I wasn't dying to see them (althought, they are probably the only band that played that I actually like). So, I do not have a comment on them.
Alright. Here is my problem with every single band that played. None of them had a real stage presence. Sure, they all got up on stage with energy and played well. But none of them interacted! I can go off on a list of bands that actually talk to the crowd and to eachother and tell stories and jokes (Want me to? I will). But none of the bands tonight did that. I don't know if it's because they were pressed for time (DC has a 11:00 PM curfew for under 18. The concert started at 4:30. Somehow I doubt they were running late), or they had a very restricted amount of time to play or what. I think that's what made it so boring for me. I think that if the bands took more time to engage the crowd with something other than their music, others would be much more interested.
While I was watching and realized this, I remembered why I love All Time Low, We The Kings, The Maine and other bands so much. They joke around with their bandmates or the crowd. They have stories to tell. They have things other to say than "Thank you!" or "It's so great of you guys to come out tonight!" If I had a penny for eachtime a guy on stage said that, I would be rich.
As I said, I like exposing myself to different bands. I felt this exposure was successful.
Moral of the story is (to bands) that you need to interact. Unless you're a devout fan, trying to lure others in with just your music (show exclusive) just isn't enough. I'm not really a fan of Mayday Parade in general, but the two times I've seen them live (All Time Low 2008 Fall Tour, The Compromise of Integrity, Morality and Principals for Money Tour (That was ALL off the top of my head! Who rocks!?) and then Fall Ball), I just wasn't converted. They're interesting to watch, for the most part. They're energetic and they move around a lot, but where was the pizzaz?
I'm not going to go off on this much longer because all I'll start to do is run in circles.
Basically, I love All Time Low because of the show and their music. I love the crudeness and the silliness and immaturity. It's FUN! Now that I think about it, I don't think someone said 'fuck' or 'shit' at all tonight. Where was the cursing? The AP Tour 2009 was not profanity free. I mean, of course it wasn't. But there wasn't any cursing that I witnessed at the Fall Ball. I honestly think that the crowd was much more interesting than the stage.
Love always,
Amanda
P.S. I'm not trying to tell you not to go to the tour if you haven't. Everyone should go. This might have just been for DC. But somehow I doubt that. Tell me your thoughts.
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