Live Review: Fall Out Boy @ Camden Underworld, 25/2/13

Since the day Fall Out Boy announced their hiatus in 2009, rumours were already flying about a possible reunion, and only 3 weeks ago, the band confirmed; Fall Out Boy were back. With a new single (My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark) a new album announced for April 15/16, and 3 European club dates including our very own London, their incredibly loyal fan base could not believe their luck. And neither could HTS when we arrived at Camden Underworld on Monday evening, hearts pounding with anticipation, and fear that we were about to get crushed by the other 499 avid fans waiting to get into the venue. Standing in the crowd inside, you could tell it was about to get sweaty, emotional, and brutal. All ages, all genders, all “stereotypes” were present, all connected by the fact that we fucking love Fall Out Boy. Suddenly, 8:30pm was upon us, and so were FOB. Welcomed on stage by Jay Z (“Thriller”) Pete, Patrick, Andy and Joe catapult onstage to (obviously) a frenzy of screams and fists, and a surge forward. Leading into “I Slept With Someone in Fall Out Boy (etc)” and “A Little Less Sixteen Candles”, Pete announces in between that “you’ve angered our nanny, he’s on stage a lot” referring to his huge bodyguard, a reminder that this is a band who’s key member (Pete, even though we think they’re all fabulous) is still very, very famous. This may be a small show, but FOB are in no way small time.

The 22 song set never falters, including hits from Take This To Your Grave (who’s 10 year anniversary is in May) From Under The Cork Tree, and their most commercially successful album, Infinity on High. What is so important though, is the effect they still have on their fans, the caring they show, and in turn, the songs they choose to play; the ones they never play. “Some of the best times of my life have been with this band” gushes Wentz, and later gets all emosh on us with the sentiment that; “don’t let anyone tell you that one song can’t change your life because it can”. This is what separates Fall Out Boy and their fans from other fan bases, the connection between them, even after 4 years. You Me At Six are spotted on the balcony, proving further just how important this reunion show is to EVERYONE. The 2 hours fly by, the jumping and most pits climax, and 21 songs later, we’re reaching the end of the encore, and “Saturday”, and this reviewer crowd surfs to the front (about 4 rows, I like a good view), ruins her knee on landing, and when being guided back into the crowd, high fives Pete Wentz on her way past, who has a huge grin on his face. The hiatus was clearly a dark time for all four guys, and we’re so happy that “the break’s over”…

(Would have been 5 stars but the pole in the middle of the floor in Camden Underworld is a BITCH and that annoyed us thoroughly, soz.)