Live Review: All Time Low @ Brixton Academy.

by | Mar 18, 2014

All Time Low plays O2 Brixton Academy (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

All Time Low plays O2 Brixton Academy (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Somewhere in between growing hair in some very odd places, and many a violent mood swing; I fell in love with a pop punk band from Maryland, Baltimore. I’ve gone through a lot of changes since then, and so have All Time Low. Admittedly there are some mixed emotions when a band you once saw playing tiny venues are now playing their second sell out show at the mammoth Brixton Academy. Nonetheless, the consistent fan support is overwhelming, with the queue looping the South London town twice over before the doors of the venue have even opened. Clearly tonight’s show is going to be a spectacle and no one here wants to miss a second of it.

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Opening are Dublin newcomers Only Rivals. Welcomed by a deafening scream; the band rip in to their set with upbeat guitar riffs and well executed harmonies, showing no signs of stopping. Some might say this band are punching above their weight, but the ever growing crowd would undoubtedly argue with that notion. At one point of the set the band ask the audience to put their phones in the air, and it becomes apparent that everyone here will do exactly what is asked of them in order to have a good time. From start to finish Only Rivals deliver what is needed, whilst making a point that they are ones to watch this year.

 (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Tonight Alive (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Tonight Alive follow, and after an even warmer welcome it’s time to invest in some new ear drums. From the reception, it’s hard to believe that the female fronted 5 piece aren’t the headline band tonight. Vocalist Jenna McDougall bounces from one side of the stage to the other, commanding every individual in the room with ease. Mostly showcasing songs from their most recent album ‘The Other Side’, Tonight Alive blend furious rock melodies with extremely catchy pop hooks in an explosion of pure energy. After All Time Low vocalist Alex Gaskarth makes a short appearance during their set, McDougall jokes ‘now you have seen All Time Low it’s all down hill from here’. After a performance like that, the mind is left to wonder. Could she could be right?

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

During the interval the stage is cleared and all that is left is a black curtain. As the house lights drop, eerie music starts to play through the PA. The now rumbling introduction reaches the end of it’s crescendo, the first chord rings out and the curtain drops to reveal an impressive stage set up. Cartoon caricatures of each band member hang from the ceiling whilst ramps on stage lead to the centrepiece that is the elevated drum kit.

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

By the time you can divert your attention from the stage, All Time Low have already torn through their opening song ‘Do You Want Me (Dead?)’. Guitarist Jack Barakat sprints across the stage as bras hurtle from every direction at his feet, his microphone stand beginning to resemble a badly organised lingerie aisle. After a medley of hits, the band take a breather whilst Alex and Jack have some Blink-182-esque stage banter. It’s clear that even though this band have grown up, their humour shows no signs of maturing.

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

As the show moves on, the rest of the band leave the stage for Gaskarth to serenade his audience with some acoustic songs. Although All Time Low can be outright ridiculous at the best of times, the Essex born vocalist shows his sensitive side with fan favourites ‘Remembering Sunday’ and ‘Therapy’. As the years have gone on, most can agree that ATL have swayed more to the pop side of Pop-Punk. Despite this, Gaskarth displays raw passion in his words; proof that this pop band are not just another paint by numbers, sell out act.

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

As the other members rejoin the stage, drummer Rian Dawson hammers his kit into ‘Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)’ and it’s as if the last ten minutes didn’t happen. The crowd are back to usual form and it feels as if the ground is shaking. After a slightly unrehearsed, yet enjoyable ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ cover the band being to reach the tail end of their set. Jenna McDougall of Tonight Alive joins the band during their encore, performing the guest vocals in their newest single ‘A Love Like War’ in place of Pierce The Veil vocalist Vic Fuentes, before the band conclude the night with their biggest hit ‘Dear Maria’. The last song is a party, as members of both support bands join the stage and run free whilst drink spills every where. It’s a perfect end to an extremely fun performance.

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

All Time Low @ Brixton Academy. 15th March 2014. Photography by Solange Moreira-Yeoell. (Solange Moreira-Yeoell)

Whether you’re an old school ATL fan, or you’ve just heard them; there is something for everyone tonight. All Time Low know how to get a party started, and so do their fans.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000I.r0Qn9Pdq8″ g_name=”All-Time-Low” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Review by Vini Moreira-Yeoell. Photographs by Solange Moreira-Yeoell.

Clairo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Clairo Brings Soft Focus And Dreamy Intimacy To The Great Oak Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In the golden lull between a dramatic afternoon downpour and Sabrina Carpenter’s headline pop spectacle, Clairo turned London’s Great Oak Stage into a sanctuary of softness and reflection. Her early evening performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 6th July offered a tender contrast to the festival’s typically high-energy crescendo, inviting the crowd into a quieter, more introspective space.

Jessie Murph (Press)

Jessie Murph Announces Bold New Album ‘Sex Hysteria’, Shares Vulnerable New Single ‘Bad As The Rest’

Boundary-breaking rising star Jessie Murph has unveiled her latest single Bad As The Rest, offering a raw and emotionally charged glimpse into her upcoming sophomore album Sex Hysteria, due out on 18th July via Columbia Records.

The Jacques (Nick Sayers)

The Jacques Announce Riotous New Single ‘All The Other Sinners’ Ahead of Second Album ‘Make Repetition!’

London/Bristol alt-rock trio The Jacques are ramping up momentum ahead of their second album Make Repetition! with the release of their blistering new single All The Other Sinners — a searing, melody-drenched slice of chaos and catharsis out now.

Cam @ The Tabernacle (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Cam Captivates London With A Night Of Raw Vocals And Real Stories At The Tabernacle

In a sweltering Tabernacle, a somehow both vast and intimate venue, a sweat-soaked audience filled every seat for...
J.Fla (Press)

J.Fla Redefines Herself With Empowering New Single ‘Stellar Paradox’

South Korean singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation J.Fla has taken a giant leap into the cosmos with her newest release, Stellar Paradox, marking the start of a bold new chapter in her musical journey. Known to millions for her viral YouTube covers, J.Fla now turns the spotlight firmly onto her own voice with a genre-blending, emotionally charged original that paves the way for her highly anticipated upcoming EP, due in late summer 2025.

Chloe Qisha @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Chloe Qisha Closes The Rainbow Stage In Style At BST Hyde Park 2025

After a tempestuous afternoon that saw Hyde Park lashed by torrential rain and set times thrown into flux, it was Chloe Qisha who restored the calm — and then brought the fire — as she closed the Rainbow Stage on Sunday evening with a confident, emotionally astute set that proved worth the wait.

Lusaint (Jade Vowles)

Lusaint Captures The Ache Of A Sunlit Longing With New Single ‘Summertime’ Ahead Of ‘The Apothecary’ EP

Rising Mancunian star Lusaint has unveiled her latest single Summertime, a smoky, jazz-laced track brimming with emotion and understated power. Arriving in the wake of earlier 2025 releases Joking and Neon Lights, Summertime serves as the final preview before the release of her hotly anticipated new EP The Apothecary, due later this summer.

Tanner Adell @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Tanner Adell Brings Southern Sparkle To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In a festival often dominated by heavyweight pop, Tanner Adell’s mid-afternoon set on the Rainbow Stage offered a thrilling detour into rhinestone-studded country pop — with a Gen Z twist and plenty of attitude. On a stacked BST Hyde Park Sunday that saw Sabrina Carpenter headline the Great Oak Stage for the second time of the weekend, it was Adell who delivered one of the day’s most memorable performances before the heavens opened and drenched London in a biblical downpour.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing