Fall Out Boy Live [Review]

Standing in the winding queue for merch for the best part of an hour, covered somewhat from the rain by some trees, and trying to reply to Snapchats without my hands freezing off is never the best way to kick off a night. But as I stood in this queue, I was surrounded by people in Panic! At The Disco and twenty one pilots tees, many-a-pair of Doc Martens (mine included), and greeted by two excited girls dishing out MANIA-purple card to put in front of our phone torches during the performance of Champion. The atmosphere, and the unity of everyone filling out London's O2 Arena could already be felt, despite the bitter chill. Everyone was ready for a night of nostalgic pop punk anthems as played by Fall Out Boy. 

Ever since booking tickets towards the end of last year, I was prepared for theatrics. And, boy did they come. As soon as the thumping percussion of opening number The Phoenix reverberated around the arena, fire shot from the ceiling and stage. The same kind of bonfire night displays continued throughout the next couple of tracks: Irresistible, Centuries, Sugar, We're Going Down and Stay Frosty, Milk Tea. I remember someone telling me that their elaborate work with pyrotechnics was to distract us from the fact Patrick Stump can't sing live...I'd like to quash this rumour now. The notes he managed to reach throughout - especially during Sugar, We're Going Down and Save Rock and Roll, in which he hit some incredible bass notes - were something quite special. The fervour in his vocal performance equalled the energy exhibited by him and his fellow band mates - Pete Wentz and Joe Trohman particularly made great use of the long stretch of stage through that the crowd, continually running down it and using it as a trampoline. That being said, as I expected, it was very much the Pete and Patrick show; neither Joe or drummer Andy Hurley spoke, and when it came to performing on the stages in the middle of the crowd, Pete and Patrick were on the raised platform by themselves.

The beauty of Fall Out Boy's music comes from it's diversity, but each song has a timelessness about it. Show closer Saturday - alongside Dance, Dance, Thnks Fr Th Mmrs and This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race - were met with just as much elation as tracks from their latest record (Church, Champion, Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)). Their 17-year-old career bought older fans and younger alike. 

Having said that, not much was played from their latest LP, MANIA. Lead single Young And Menace was hardly a tinkle on the piano by Patrick, with the first verse and chorus played solo by him while Andy set up his drum solo on the stage in the middle of the crowd. Since this song has such an epic drop, not playing it full seems like a missed opportunity, and at this point, would've provided a good intermission between the relentless rock of tracks from their more 'emo' days. 

Even though MANIA may not have invited as much enthusiasm as some of their earlier works - perhaps reflected in the set list - it's clear Fall Out Boy's fans are as dedicated as ever, and the Illinois quartet were keen to thank them for it: by putting on an exhilarating and undoubtedly fun performance to round off their UK tour. 

From, 

Eleanor