Pazar 24 Oca 2010, 18:45

Sat 23 Jan – Brand New, Thrice, Glassjaw

A line up like Brand New, Glassjaw and Thrice is one barely seen on this side of the Atlantic. For years I've complained that the US gets all the best tours, so it was about time we saw something worth travelling to London for.

Thrice were missing Teppei but not noticeably so; after seeing them headline in Leeds a few days before, I was expecting nothing less than what they gave - a decent set. It was a shame that from where I was, they weren't as appreciated as they should have been. Dustin Kensrue was on top form and Thrice clearly rose to the challenge of an arena show. There was a noticeable lack of Deadbolt but a highlight in the closing song, the title track from their new album, Beggars.

Right on time were Glassjaw, who seemed to be equally under appreciated. By this point, I was beginning to wonder whether everybody around me had come for the same show I had. Being familar with the band but not with their song titles leaves me without comment on their setlist and while Daryl Palumbo's energetic performance was entertaining, it left me with the feeling that it would have been better suited to an Academy.

As for Brand New, the headliners, the band everybody went to see - some all the way from Scotland - I was disappointed. After hearing other opinions about their performance, I feel as though I watched a completely different show, but personally, I was left with the feeling that I'd just watched a band disappear into their own arseholes before my very eyes.

Jesse Lacey screamed his way through the first half of the set, which included Degausser followed by You Won't Know and Okay, I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don't. The ad-lib screaming and wailing just didn't cut it for me; these songs are sung, so why they were screeched around the arena is beyond me. They seemed to hit their stride in the second half, with The Archers Bows Have Broken and the classic fan-favourite, Seventy Times Seven and the setlist was an excellent mix of all their studio albums. Vices was a highlight for me - finally, a song that was meant to be screamed out.

If they cut the pretentiousness from their style, Brand New would probably come across better. Wembley Arena is long way from Academy 2 shows and the release of Deja Entendu, and they've earned the right to play there, but when you overlook their cult status, is the substance really there anymore?