New Found Glory (Islington Academy, 25.8.15)
So predictable. Look, sometimes in life you get the opportunity to see your favourite band two nights on the trot. And sometimes you have to take it.
Dublin's Only Rivals opened the show this time around with half an hour of alternative rock. The set builds to a rousing conclusion but doesn't inspire any great feelings in me, positive or negative.
True to their word, New Found Glory return for night 2 with 12 different songs and put on an equally terrific show. A young band throwing multiple copies of their demo onto the stage provides the perfect segue into "Ready and Willing", a track off their new record about following one's dreams. "I hope this life I've led will wake you up, so you could do it again", Pundik sings before launching into the chorus one last time. It's right up there with the band's best work.
Elsewhere, we get a reprise of "Failure's Not Flattering" and it's absolutely enormous synth line which gets the whole room off its feet. Likewise, "At Least I'm Known For Something" propelled by an absolute juggernaut of a hardcore riff is one of my highlights of the evening. It's a good night for anyone like me who was particularly fond of their "Catalyst" record, their attempt to experiment with a heavier sound. It pays dividends in a live context.
But again, it's a show that above all else is pretty fun. Sixpence None The Richer's "Kiss Me" receives the NFG cover treatment, continuing the huge singalongs from the hugely anthemic "Coming Home". Old school fans are rewarded too with a rendition of "Sucker" from their self-titled second record and a rare outing for the schmaltzy ballad "I Don't Wanna Know" is warmly received, with the live setting breathing life into one of the the dodgier tracks in their discography.
The encore presents a fine blend of old and new, including the exceedingly old track "It'll Never Snow In Florida", the crunchy title track from "Resurrection" and the terrific "Don't Let Her Pull You Down". There are few lyrics more fun to sing along to than "It's time that I rained on your parade". More than anything, these two shows have convinced me how vital the veterans of pop-punk remain to the scene. Long may they continue.
Dublin's Only Rivals opened the show this time around with half an hour of alternative rock. The set builds to a rousing conclusion but doesn't inspire any great feelings in me, positive or negative.
True to their word, New Found Glory return for night 2 with 12 different songs and put on an equally terrific show. A young band throwing multiple copies of their demo onto the stage provides the perfect segue into "Ready and Willing", a track off their new record about following one's dreams. "I hope this life I've led will wake you up, so you could do it again", Pundik sings before launching into the chorus one last time. It's right up there with the band's best work.
Elsewhere, we get a reprise of "Failure's Not Flattering" and it's absolutely enormous synth line which gets the whole room off its feet. Likewise, "At Least I'm Known For Something" propelled by an absolute juggernaut of a hardcore riff is one of my highlights of the evening. It's a good night for anyone like me who was particularly fond of their "Catalyst" record, their attempt to experiment with a heavier sound. It pays dividends in a live context.
But again, it's a show that above all else is pretty fun. Sixpence None The Richer's "Kiss Me" receives the NFG cover treatment, continuing the huge singalongs from the hugely anthemic "Coming Home". Old school fans are rewarded too with a rendition of "Sucker" from their self-titled second record and a rare outing for the schmaltzy ballad "I Don't Wanna Know" is warmly received, with the live setting breathing life into one of the the dodgier tracks in their discography.
The encore presents a fine blend of old and new, including the exceedingly old track "It'll Never Snow In Florida", the crunchy title track from "Resurrection" and the terrific "Don't Let Her Pull You Down". There are few lyrics more fun to sing along to than "It's time that I rained on your parade". More than anything, these two shows have convinced me how vital the veterans of pop-punk remain to the scene. Long may they continue.
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