All Time Low sent anticipation sparkling with the announcement of a massive show at London’s SSE Arena on Friday 20th March, where they planned to film a new DVD since the release of Straight To DVD in 2010. Five years later and we’ve seen the Baltimore pop-punk band grow stronger and stronger, building a bigger fan base every year. This fanbase was finally put to the test when the question “Can they sell out Wembley Arena?” was posed. The answer to this was obvious. Of course they could and they’re very well aware of how to put on one hell of a show doing it.
The support acts, Real Friends and Neck Deep, were successful in warming up the crowd and making everybody feel at home. Real Friends seemed thoroughly grateful to be there and like Neck Deep, completely underestimated their popularity. Neck Deep made the show their own when frontman Ben Barlow introduced the one and only Laura Whiteside on stage joining them for ‘A Part Of Me’, a song that made me tear up after seeing Neck Deep go from playing the small Concorde 2 in Brighton only a month earlier to a sold out Wembley Arena show.
Soon enough, it was time and the lights dimmed and people chanted ‘All Time Low’ in unison, calling out for the moment we had all waited months for. As the band completely hijacked the stage with screams getting louder and louder and louder and LOUDER, the opening chords to ‘A Love Like War’ struck and the night of our lives began.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gur6sKEGtg&w=740&h=422]
Playing popular jams like ‘Lost In Stereo’ and ‘Stella,’ All Time Low knew how to get the party started and had the crowd moving at what felt like 100mph. The band also surprised us by playing ‘Jasey Rae’ unexpectedly, keeping the crowd satisfied with the mix of new and old songs on the set list. Gaskarth later introduced Josh Franceschi of You Me At Six who tore up the stage in replacement of Jason Vena of Acceptance who features on ‘Outlines’, which was born from All Time Low’s last studio album Don’t Panic.
Things took an emotional turn when the lights dissolved and frontman Alex Gaskarth found himself on a second stage, asking the crowd if he could ‘slow things down for a little while.’ Like he needed our permission. Beautifully done, Gaskarth powered through ‘Remembering Sunday’ only to invite Cassadee Pope of The Voice US and Hey Monday to sing along with him. This, judging by the intense screams and my ears nearly falling off, was a genuine crowd pleaser as Pope’s talent shined all the way through her performance. Once Cassadee left the stage, a sense of unity flooded the room as people held each other’s hands and cried on one another’s shoulders whilst Gaskarth roared into ‘Therapy.’
Playing singles from their soon to be released album Future Hearts, ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ and ‘Kids In The Dark’ were teasers to be proud of as the band’s blatant hard work with the album so evidently paid off. You can pre-order the album now for its release date of April 7th.
All Time Low carried the show the only way they knew how – with a thunderstorm of inappropriate jokes, laughter and many surprises along the way.
Words by Zara Rowden
@zaraannecharlie
Photo by Adam Elmakias