Photo: Danny Payne
“I’m not sure how you got here, but I’m fucking glad you did. Right now, for the next hour and a half, let’s fight back”, are the immortal first words uttered by Pete Wentz to the roaring crowd. And so it goes - all guns blazing.
All is dark inside the concrete cocoon that is Leeds First Direct Arena. Piercing screams of admiration and anticipation reverberate from one wall to another, the encased human mass swelling by the second. A single drum beat is all it takes to kick-starts a frenzy. ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down’ from beloved and classic album, From Under The Cork Tree, welcomes the city to their evening with Fall Out Boy - and what an evening it was.
Less American Beauty/American Psycho album tour, more a relentless, adrenaline-fuelled melting pot of infectious classics spanning more than 14 years and six studio albums. Matching the ultimate setlist, the visuals dazzled and reinforced each track - from flame throwers to flood lights, stage dominating stairs with drum kit aloft to piercing strobe lighting of blood red and electric blue. It really was a feast for the senses.
Photo: Danny Payne
‘American Beauty/American Psycho’ sees a mass of beach ball sized balloons cascade from the ceiling, rippling towards the stage. Sassy showmanship was in full supply from the timeless pop-rock duo, Patrick and Pete - owning the stage and radiating their unmistakeable presence.
“This song is for all the fallen balloons out there,” Patrick says with laughter in his voice and a smile on his face. “If you know the words, you should sing”. Of course we know the words, it’s ‘Where Is Your Boy Tonight’.
Photo: Danny Payne
“Shout out to everybody from York-shire”, Pete’s sentence is broken when every available fist punches the sky, replicating the iconic motif of the 300 Spartan soldiers from the well known film. Impromptu chanting swells from every living being in the building, “Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire” - not even Pete has power enough to make them simmer, there’s nothing he can do but step away from the mic with a grin, admiring the growing fortitude of the rallying call. “I’m considering a move”, he chuckles. The crowd refocus in time for ‘Centuries’.
What you need to know is that FOB absolutely smashed it last night. These American Beauties have come a long way by their own admission, “You’re the band that got bottled,” Pete recalls being told of their well documented 2007 Leeds Festival incident. “Now they fucking love you!” It’s true, we do.
Photo: Liz Hainsworth
Fall Out Boy played:
Sugar, We're Goin Down
A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More "Touch Me"
Irresistible
The Phoenix
I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me
Thriller
Alone Together
The Kids Aren't Alright
This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
Immortals (Acoustic on small stage)
Young Volcanoes (Acoustic on small stage)
Dance, Dance
American Beauty/American Psycho
Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy
Beat It (Michael Jackson cover)
Uma Thurman
Thnks fr th Mmrs
I Don't Care
Centuries
Encore:
My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)
Saturday
