Yellowcard - Live At The Carling Academy, Birmingham (10/3/06)

Yellowcard with support from Engerica


To be honest although i was a big fan of 'Ocean Avenue' the latest album took a while to really grow on me and even still there's only some of it which i like, the rest i could give or take. Therefore when i got the tickets i was more looking forward to hearing 'Breathing' 'Way Away' and other classics from Ocean Avenue but when they hit the stage and opened with Lights And Sounds i was blown away. The lighting was perfectly co-ordinated, with almost eerie spotlights over Ryan and the guys whilst the crowd bounced as one.

A big opening song and often quite a gamble as i have always seen bands hold back on the big hits until towards the end when the crowd are already fired up, but as if Lights And Sounds wasn't enough to get the crowd moving, the punchy violin suddenyl began playing the biggest hit Way Away straight after. Now with the crowd really fired up, song after song were played seamlessly. Even when someone needed a drink or a break the rest of the band would take that opportunity to improvise and show off, in a sense.

The slushy 'Only One' showed the couples all swaying as one with mobile lights and lighters illuminating the academy like a night sky. Speeding back up to 'Breathing' and some new songs 'Sure Thing Falling' and 'Down On My Head' the band really showed that they could pull off the old stuff just as good as the new. Even going back to the bands first album 'One For The Kids' and playing the ever popular, 'October Nights'.

The best part of the gig was that they really made the audience feel a part of it, taking every opportunity to thank everyone for coming and looking back to when they played a smaller stage at the same venue and bringing 2000+ peoples vocals in to help during 'Ocean Avenue'.

Although Ryans vocals let him down ever so slightly during some songs, i believe this is to do with a few problems the band had not long ago when they had to reschedule the entire tour.

Finally the band ended with 'Ocean Avenue' and said of how they had found someone during the day, taught him to play the guitar and brought him on stage to play with them. Although it was hard to believe he had never played guitar before, the nerves in his eyes and statue like stance on stage showed that he had not ever really played in front of a crowd before and although we are unsure of how true the story was, if it was, it shows just how close to the fans Yellowcard truly are.

A surprisingly good gig with the best audience participation i have ever seen at such a small venue.

4/5


Dan