Jimmy Eat World have a loyal fan base. After 20 years as a band, they can still sell out venues on the other side of the world.
The Arizona four-piece headlined a Soundwave ‘sidewave’ bill at Melbourne’s Forum theatre, which included supports from Panic At The Disco and Alkaline Trio.
You’d be forgiven for thinking Alkaline Trio were the headliners. By the time the first act hit the stage, the auditorium already looked completely full. It’s rare to see over 90 per cent of ticket holders arrive for the first band. That being said, most supports aren’t Alkaline Trio.
The band tore through 11 songs in a very solid 40-minute set, and had absolutely no trouble warming up the excited crowd. ‘Sadie’ was a particular standout, as was the hit single ‘Radio’.
The front ‘mosh pit’ area became a little less congested after their set, allowing for those non-Alkaline Trio fans to come forward to watch Panic At The Disco. Despite having released a new album recently, the Las Vegas rockers didn’t draw too heavily on their latest material, instead opting to play the hits that everyone knew best – a good move when you’re not top billing.
‘Nine In The Afternoon’ was the absolute standout, and one that garnered a passionate singalong. Faster tunes, like ‘Let’s Kill Tonight’ and ‘Miss Jackson’, went down well, as did the closer, ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’ from their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out.
After a half an hour break, the house lights dimmed and Jimmy Eat World stepped on stage to a rousing applause before kicking things off with their lead single ‘I Will Steal You Back’ from their latest record Damage. The album may feel rather soft and easy to listen to, however the song was a signal of intent for the evening, showcasing the full-on, ballsy feel of the album tracks when played live.
Newer material dictated the opening stanza, with the next two songs ‘Big Casino’ and ‘My Best Theory’ coming from their last three albums. The band also wound the clock back to 1999 with ‘Lucky Denver Mint’ from the much-loved Clarity album.
There’s little doubt that 2001’s Bleed American is the band’s seminal album. It was a turning point for the band, and one that provided their biggest and only real mainstream crossover hit. The album’s first taste was the softer sad song, ‘Hear You Me’. It was an absolute treat live, and was just about the closest thing a non-religious person could come to having a true spiritual moment that is both heartbreaking yet happy.
Three songs in a row from Futures was a highlight (and admittably, this reviewer’s favourite album of all time). It provided a feeling of dark optimism, as the entire album does, which translated live brilliantly. ‘For Me This Is Heaven’ was an undisputed highlight from the moment frontman Jim Adkins softly sang, “The first star I see, may not be a star”. His bandmates waited side of stage during the song which, despite one false start, was still a special moment in the set.
Former lead singer Tom Linton sang Clarity favourite ‘Blister’, which has become something of a staple at any Jimmy Eat World gig.
The tail end of the regular set included the brilliant ‘Sweetness’ and ‘Bleed American’ before the band waltzed off stage for the obligatory encore.
After ‘Chase This Light’, the hauntingly beautiful ‘23’ was delivered just the way you would want it to be. The song prompted the most camera phones of the evening, all of them set to video. The final song was always going to be ‘The Middle’, however that didn’t make the affair any less fun. For so many, it’s the one song that got them into the band, so it holds special memories for a lot of people.
The band’s appreciation of their fans and the money they pay to go and see them is always impressive, and this Melbourne show was no exception. The crowd probably didn’t reciprocate as much as they should have – given the exceptional show the band put on – but the performance was the right length, included a great mix of hits, and all the songs were delivered in a way that was very close to how they were recorded, only with more verve and energy.
