When Jimmy Eat World announced three UK dates to celebrate the anniversary of their fourth studio album, ‘Bleed American’, the usual response of people complaining that the band weren’t playing in insert town here was largely replaced with: “Halifax? Really?”
Maybe a market town in the North of England isn’t the first place that springs to mind when you’re thinking about the best places to recapture your youth, but I’m struggling to think of a more perfect setting for what happens tonight.
Hosting as part of their ‘TK Maxx presents Live’ series of outdoor concerts, The Piece Hall is a Grade 1 listed Georgian building, built in 1779 – the centre of which is a stunning open-air courtyard, quickly being filled by families, friends and a tangible sense of anticipation.
Opening proceedings tonight are The Get Up Kids. Spectacularly reading the room by pulling heavily from 1999’s acclaimed album, ‘Something to Write Home About’, the Kansas City quintet show why they’re held in such high regard as one of the cornerstones of the second wave of emo, ending an anthem-heavy set with massive singalongs to ‘Holiday’ and ‘Ten Minutes’.
Rise Against are next up and bring about a massive increase in crowd energy with their high octane, hardcore-tinged style of punk rock. ‘Help Is On the Way’ is a highlight in a set of highlights with frontman Tim McIlrath dedicating the track to victims of environmental destruction. In a crowd heavy on nostalgia and emotion, McIlrath tugs on a LOT of heartstrings when explaining the 30+ year relationship that tonight’s three bands have.
As the sun sets over West Yorkshire, excitement rises with every passing moment before the headliners take to the stage.
Here. We. Go.
Advertised as a ‘Bleed American’ album show, a large percentage of the crowd around me seem to be a bit lost when the band open with four tracks from the album’s predecessor, 1999’s emo staple, ‘Clarity’, but those who are loving it are REALLY loving it.
As the last refrains of ‘Lucky Denver Mint’ echo through the air, the initial staging is separated to reveal the full screening and lighting for the main event and the reason this show was long sold out.
Zach Lind’s iconic drums for the album opener and titular track bring the crowd together as one entity and into one place. That being within the palm of frontman Jim Adkins’ hand.
The band blast through the first half of the record with Guitar Hero/rock club staple/absolute mega-hit ‘The Middle’ prompting crowd volume far higher than you would’ve thought possible from 4000 people. The 2007 rework of ‘Your House’ is a personal highlight whilst heart wrenching ballad ‘Hear You Me’ ensures very few dry eyes are left.
“Time for side 2” quips Adkins as the band continue their onslaught onto the emotions of every single person in attendance. ‘Cautioners’ puts a pause in the dancing to allow everyone a moment of introspection about their own fragile connections before ‘Authority Song’ lifts the mood and pace one final time. ‘My Sundown’ is an emotional end to the main body of the set and the air is heavy with both acceptance of and escape from those unrealistic expectations of youth.
If the evening ended here, no-one could complain. But the band aren’t quite finished yet.
A five-track encore follows, starting with ‘Disintegration’ from the band’s somewhat hidden gem of an EP, ‘Stay On My Side Tonight’. 2004 single ‘Pain’ and another treat from ‘Clarity’, in the shape of ‘For Me This is Heaven’ follow, whilst 2007’s ‘Big Casino’ is the most recently released song from the band’s catalogue that is played.
The show ends with a sprawling rendition of ’23’ from 2004 album ‘Futures’, leaving the crowd in a strange but beautiful melancholic euphoria.
At a time when society feels so divided, the connection formed 25 years ago between a band from Phoenix, Arizona and an audience in Halifax, West Yorkshire feels as strong and as vital as it ever has been and, when the house lights come up and the audience disperse having made memories that will last a lifetime, you can’t help but think of the lyrics in ‘A Praise Chorus’. Nostalgia really won’t let you down.