Photo: Shirlaine Forrest
Bands like Thrice, Glassjaw and Brand New aren’t traditionally known to play arena shows, so there was an understandable apprehension in the air coming from fans used to cramming into academies and forums around the UK. It was the biggest UK show to date for all three groups, and seeing as it was a one-off, it had to be something pretty special.
Thrice set a decent enough standard (despite the absence of guitarist Teppei Teranishi) with an introductory half hour set. Although Teppei was noticeably missed for songs such as Of Dust and Nations, which revolve around trade-mark lead hooks, the band smashed out a brief yet brilliant set that included tracks from latest record, Beggars, as well as fan favourites like Artist in the Ambulance.
Since canceling shows back in 2003, Glassjaw had a lot of the audience there specifically for them. To be honest, I couldn’t understand why. As far as I could hear, the live performance failed to resemble any studio produce I’ve heard from the hardcore outfit. It was a massively energetic performance, but the sound fell short. The venue size will be an obvious argument for Glassjaw fans, but Thrice had just shown that the arena scale could be coped with. Perhaps it would’ve been more fitting for Glassjaw to open the evening...? (Somewhere else?!)
With the stage set, Brand New were ready to deliver a show that was all too unfamiliar to them. Two drum kits sat centre stage and were put to immediate effect as Welcome to Bangkok exploded upon Wembley. Although they instantly proved coping with such a venue would not be a problem, I couldn’t help but crave the same performance in a more intimate setting. Alas; the price of fame.
The set, as ever with Brand New, was diverse in pace and produce. It seems they never leave a fan unfulfilled. Songs from all four studio albums are snuck in here and there with the difference in style never disrupting the flow of a challengingly lengthy set. With an arena-sized backdrop at their disposal, it was refreshing to see they didn’t get carried away with props that many would become reliant on. Grey-scale, artistic movies, incorporating visuals from latest album, Daisy, were a fine compliment to songs like At the Bottom and Vices.
The Long Island band are more than comfortable in their ways and are self-confessed in under preparing before shows. You’d never know. Leading the crowd through an audio journey of all the styles they’ve dabbled in, Brand New are deservedly being labeled as the Radiohead of their genre. Whatever that may be.
After a sing-along closing few songs of nostalgia (Jude Law and the semester abroad and Seventy times Seven) Jesse Lacey and Vinnie Accardi left on a lullaby. Play Crack in the Sky was delivered with such feeling and conviction, there was no encore necessary.
