All Time Low was playing at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford. I was right behind the security guards, in front of the stage, waiting for the lights to go down and the band to come on. I could see their backstage area, and the band was getting pumped, guitars in tow and their game faces on. Hopping and high fiving the energy was electric.
The lights went down, the overhead music stopped, and the crowd went insane. If you've heard the uproaring of a crowd before a band comes on, be it Green Day or Lady Gaga or some other ultrafamous musician, it paled in comparison to this. Nothing, and I mean nothing is more obnoxious and loud than teenage fangirls. It was brutal, but the band came out with huge smiles on their faces. It fired them up and they tore right into their set.
They immediately jumped into "Do You Want Me (Dead)?", and what seemed like the entire room sang along. The energy from the band was contagious and while I was up there, taking pictures, even I found myself singing along. They're really fantastic performers.
My jaw dropped when I heard them playing my all time favourite song by them, "Jasey Rae". It's the most perfect song they've ever written, and I don't ever remember hearing them play it live before. They flawlessly played through it. It was by far the best song of their entire set.
Another song they played that was really impressive was "Damned If I Do Ya(Damned If I Don't)". I expected this one to be mediocre live, considering it's not that great on the album either, but I was captivated by the band's talent. The difference here was the energy of the room and the interaction between the band members.
Besides their music skills, they're very funny guys. Zack Merrick, the bassist, walked across the stage on his hands. When he was finished, Alex Gaskarth the frontman said "You're like the Tony Hawk of handstands." Quickly after, the witty Jack Barakat, the guitarist, said "And Alex is the Steven Hawking of handstands." Their clever banter made everyone in the room laugh. Seeing them just being friends onstage stopped, if only for a second, the constant thought that they're famous rockstars, and rather they're just four guys making catchy pop music.
All Time Low's fanbase might've been a little… insane but they definitely deserve all of the recognition and praise they're finally getting. Everyone in that room was having a good time, even the immense number of parents, considering there are kids that are so young there.
ATL was fun to watch, listen to, and they sure do know how to put on a good show. I do believe they've 'made it'.