5 Reasons why I wish my FOB phase lasted longer. (Fall Out Boy at Sydney Entertainment Centre 25/10/
- genevavalek
- Nov 2, 2013
- 3 min read
Before I tell you how amazing Fall Out Boy were, I think that a nostalgia-trip back in time is incredibly necessary.
It's 2009 and I, (a nerdy little ginger girl) at a mere 12 years old, am about to enter the scary world of year 7. One can only express themselves in a few ways when attending a private christian school with a strict uniform code, but I managed to find a loophole, and for an entire year I wore a blazer with FOB hand sown in and 3 badges with close ups of Pete Wentz's face.
But I have a confession to make to the 4 to 5 people who actually knew who I was/paid attention to me back in '09: I only knew 3 songs.
I was really just a Jessica Simpson fan with an obsession reflex that quickly fell upon FOB when I saw Pete Wentz in Girlfriend magazine (I used to be a natural obsessive, I was one of those people who fell in love with Twilight and I once tried to be Britney Spears but that didnt really work out. Wise words: Don't sing hit me baby one more time on repeat because eventually, SOMEONE WILL HIT YOU. HARD).
But those 3 songs were GOOD, and I found those Pete Wentz badges on the ground at the bus stop and I was sure it was fate.
Fastforward back to 2013.
I'm still a nerdy ginger girl. I thought I'd forgotten the words to those three songs, but it turned out I couldn't be more wrong.
(In no order) REASONS WHY I WISH MY FALL OUT BOY PHASE LASTED LONGER/WAS REAL:
1. The fans. In my dabblings in different music scenes I've found that pop-punk fans tend to be the most intense. They can look intimidating with their tattoos, alternative haircuts and monochrome clothing, but once you talk to them they are the most passionate and genuine fans you will ever meet. They aren't just followers. They are a support network. They are a team. Every single one of them has a story about how music has helped their lives, and I think that is the most beautiful and admirable trait that I've never found in any other crowd.
2. The band. Fall Out Boy are well.... How do I put this lightly.... They're just fucking awesome. I've seen quite a few performances in my life so far and Fall Out Boy are definitely in the top 3, that's ranking above Gotye, Carole King, Coldplay, The Hives, Vampire Weekend, and so many more, which is pretty mind-blowing to me. I went to their gig as a 3-song-fan-veteran and I walked out in awe. They have an incredible amount of energy onstage, and with the help of very few 'show gimmicks' (fireworks, explosions, dancers etc) compared to their contemporaries, they manage to wow you. Standing in an ocean of a thousand voices screaming along to songs that everyone loves is a physically consuming experience.
3. Pete Wentz's inspiring speeches. It's not often that you see a performer with so much to say that they can barely hold it in, Pete Wentz explodes with bursts of genius. I wish I could quote him exactly but at a few points through the show the cray cray bass player gave incredibly motivating and beautiful speeches, one was about being different and I swear to God, the man made my knees quiver.
4. The music. I come from a different world to most of the people who went to the Fall Out Boy show. I listen to indie rock and classics, and I've been turned off of pop-punk since I saw My Chemical Romance at Big Day Out in 2012, but in all honesty, I feel like no one should disregard or judge their musical quality because of their genre. They're talented enough to pull back from their full on wall of sound to just 3 guitars and they still sound fantastic.
5. Patrick Stump. Now, you probably think I'm going to rant about how gorgeous he is, but I'm not (I'll get to that later). I'm a singer and I have been for 10 years. I've had classical training, I've been in Operas and I've spent 10 years in choirs so let's just say I know my shit. Patrick Stump bowls me over. His belt range is huuuuge, his pitch is impeccable and his tone is like velvet. He has a stunning voice, it sometimes gets lost in Rock N Roll of FOB but those beautiful notes/words that come from his mouth are absolutely hypnotically perfect. Also, HE'S INCREDIBLY GOODLOOKING AND BEAUTIFUL UNF HNG ETC.
That's my 5 reasons. The night was really amazing and I'm so grateful that I got to see them live.
Reviewed by Geneva Valek
Photos by Geneva Valek more here
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