REVIEW: Jimmy Eat World at Birmingham O2 Academy
A career-spanning set of the highest calibre
Over the course of nine studio albums and 23 glorious years, the mighty Jimmy Eat World have (rightfully) picked up the kind of dedicated fandom most bands could only dream of. In their element on stage, nowhere is this fervent following more evident in the live arena. Tonight, at the latest pit stop on their rapturously received UK tour, the excitement at Birmingham’s O2 Academy is palpable.
Touring their excellent new album ‘Integrity Blues’ – a record packed with dizzy zeniths like ‘You with Me’ and Kerrang! Radio favourite ‘Get Right’ – rather than relying on gimmicks, pyros and vast productions, Jimmy Eat World keep it simple with obligatory strobe lights their only real extravagance. Crucially, nothing more was needed as the band electrified the stage and the venue.
Anyone who turned up expecting focus on their new album was in for a special surprise as the band took us on a journey across the years during their scintillating 90 minute set. Opening with a powerful rendition ‘Get Right’ without even a pause for breath they launched straight into Bleed American. From that point on, the refreshingly mixed crowd – from teenagers to sexagenarians - was bouncing. The four-piece squeezed in an impressive 26 songs into their set and the high energy momentum continued throughout.
You'd think with the relentless onslaught of anthems that there wouldn't be much time for talking but, as always, there were brilliant anecdotes regaled in-between songs. A sign in the audience requesting to play bass on ‘The Middle’ led Jim Adkins to recount a story of touring with Green Day when Billie Joe invited an audience member on stage to play on a track only to watch on in horror as the kid got carried away and shredded the guitar. Jim told us this was no cheap guitar, it was a £10,000 vintage Gibson, so in short, no the audience member couldn't come and play the real bass!
Having seen Jimmy Eat World before, we were expecting great things, however the combination of a high energy set and twice as many songs as some bands perform at shows, meant the gig was even greater than we could have possibly imagined. With a set list that included, Pain, Just Tonight, Let It Happen, Bleed American, Sweetness, The Kill, Coffee and Cigarettes and the anthem that is The Middle, you'd be forgiven you were actually seeing a greatest hits tour.
An unequivocal triumph from start to finish, this show once again confirmed Jimmy Eat World’s status as one of the music world’s true treasures. In fact it was so good, we’re going to be reaching for their back catalogue all week.
The set-list was as follows:
Get Right Bleed American I Will Steal You Back Big Casino You with Me Hear You Me If You Don't, Don't Coffee and Cigarettes Pass the Baby Just Tonight... Kill For Me This Is Heaven No Sensitivity Lucky Denver Mint You Are Free Always Be A Praise Chorus My Best Theory Through Let It Happen 23 Work Pain
The Middle Sure and Certain Sweetness