“We’ve been a band for the past twenty years”, Jim Adkins tells the crowd after the opening track, ‘I Will Steal You Back’. It’s incredible to think that the Arizona band have managed to battle it out and remain just as strong an influence on their fans and indeed the ‘emo’ music scene as they were in the early 2000’s.Supported by We Are The Ocean, a band that not too long ago played a headline slot at this very venue and are great to watch. The set is delivered brilliantly and the guys seem to really enjoy their time on stage. Who can blame them; they’re supporting Jimmy Eat World!As the headline band take to the stage the atmosphere heightens. Many of the crowd have grown up with the band, myself being one, yet there’s still a strong amount of younger faces too. Weaving through their impressive catalog of hit singles and fan favourites from the eight studio albums; the set is certainly very impressive.The incredibly heartfelt performance of ‘Hear You Me’ makes thatlump in my throat appear and I’m sure I won’t have been the only one in the audience moved by the track that has featured in a number of TV/Film soundtracks.‘Futures’ brings back the energy in the crowd, followed by two more from the 2004 album; ‘Kill’and ‘Work’ before Jim Adkins is handed an acoustic guitar for a solo performance of ‘For Me This Is Heaven’.Despite this tour promoting new album, ‘Damages’ only a handful of tracks from the 2013 release are played. It seems Jimmy Eat World are keen to include old favourites and ‘Pain’, ‘Always Be’ and ‘A Praise Chorus’ are received with great appreciation.‘Sweetness’ and ‘Bleed American’ bring the main set to a close. The band bid their fans goodnight and exit the stage knowing that in less than five minutes they will return to play another three songs in their encore and end the night on a high.Not many bands may feel comfortable playing a song that’s longer than the usual 3/4 minutes, but Jimmy Eat World know what they’re doing and they know their fans love ‘23’and play the seven minute track in its entirety before closing on the anthem that is ‘The Middle’. Whether you’re 17 or 40, when Jim Adkins tells you everything will be alright, you believe it! Especially if like me, you've been a fan since your early teen years.Don't forget to enter my giveaway hereYou can follow me on Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
