The Spring Fever Tour featured four bands many have never heard of: All Time Low, Pierce The Veil, Mayday Parade, and You Me At Six. All four bands which play pop-punk/alternative music, which can usually be found playing the infamous Warped Tour during the summer.
But instead, I saw them perform at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square. The tickets were cheap, only twenty-five dollars each. But the show was general admission, meaning no seats. I stood in a mob of sweaty people, only getting a chance to sit down on the (sometimes sticky or wet) floor.
The first band to perform, You Me At Six, a band from a small town in England, played only six songs. They were the opening act and no wonder. They weren’t that good, they sounded just as good as if you were listening to them on your iPod at home.
The second band was Mayday Parade and while people were singing along, but there was no excitement. They performed well, but just like the band before them, they were just an opening act and the crowd was unimpressed. Even when they did a cover of “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye, their performance was underwhelming.
Tough crowd, huh? That’s what I thought at first. But then Pierce The Veil came on and everything changed.
The audience came to life, singing along to every word and jumping to the beat. I have never seen a crowd so in sync. Sporadically throughout their set; confetti would fly out from the stage, which added to the excitement.
When All Time Low, a band from a suburb in Maryland, they were minus the confetti, but the light work was amazing. The lights fit perfectly to the beat of every song played. When the band came out, an announcer was broadcasting their entrance as if they were about to begin a boxing match. It was hilarious and creative.
The bands all interacted well with the crowd, including them in songs, talking to them, and urging them to have a good time. That’s what the musicians were there for, to play music and to entertain us. And they all, the last two bands more than the others, succeeded.
But of course, to every pro, there are cons mostly having to do with the audience.
First, since everyone was standing, it got hard to see sometimes. For the first two bands an annoying couple was in front of me that are taller than LeBron James.
Plus, since we live in a world of technology, many people had their hands up taking pictures with their phones. It just got annoying.
Innumerable people were pushing each other, creating mosh pits in the middle of the floor. People were crowd surfing, not warning the people in front of them and falling on innocent concertgoers.
Those offended by harsh and vulgar language, should stay far away from these types of shows. Not that every word said would have to be bleeped out if televised, but I saw some parents looking shocked.
But overall, it was worth the downsides. The crowd reaction, though a bit rowdy at times, was energetic. These bands, if you’re a fan, should be seen live.
