It's the start of three sold out shows for All Time Low at Shepherds Bush, and the excitement is palpable in the air. After support slots from The Summer Set and Lower Than Atlantis - who suffer from technical problems, unfortunately - All Time Low take the stage.
Singer Alex Gaskarth is ill, with the flu apparently, although you'd never guess from his energetic bounces on stage. The band waste no time in launching into 'Somewhere in Neverland', a fan favourite from latest album Don't Panic. Drummer Rian Dawson previously said that the reaction to their newer songs is 'far beyond' the reaction to older songs but, as evidenced tonight, the fans seem equally overjoyed with both.
Something that All Time Low have never done is show any kind of superiority to their old material - as opposed to certain other bands. In fact, there's a perfect mix between old and new - from 'Jasey Rae' and 'Coffee Shop Soundtrack' to 'Therapy' and 'For Baltimore', there's definitely no fans left disgruntled.
While the catchier songs - and there's a lot of them - get the room in perpetual motion, no one minds when the energy levels are taken down a notch for heartfelt performances of 'Remembering Sunday' and 'Therapy'. Alex Gaskarth manages to imbue them with a sincerity that far outweighs the reputation that the band sometimes have.
The stage banter is up to their usual standards - which is to say, endearing and crude. From anyone else, the relentless sexual banter would probably be a turn off, but All Time Low manage to make it sound almost sentimental - and judging from the roar of the crowd, it doesn't seem that anybody is complaining.
Of course, the band return for the usual encore of 'Weightless' and 'Dear Maria, Count Me In' - this time with the inclusion of 'The Reckless and the Brave'. It might be Valentine's Day tonight and most of the people here seem to be single - but that doesn't mean there's a lack of love in the room.
And if that's too cheesy for you, there's also a superfluous amount of bras on the stage. Either way, no one leaves Shepherds Bush feeling like they've missed out. All Time Low, as always, more than manage to deliver.
