The Performance

As I drove past the entrance to the Manchester Academy I was astonished to find the longest line of young people I have ever seen queuing outside the venue. The Academy houses over 2,500 and I guessed that the show was well and truly, a lock-out. It’s not the first time that I’ve witnessed the reality of public opinion and spend appear to be in such sharp contrast with the level of UK airplay and chart success. I’ve never seen The All-American Rejects perform, and have only ever heard the latest album, so I was more than interested to see the why and how…

After a couple of good, middle-weight USA support acts, the band appeared with tall, beanpole lead-man Tyson Ritter stripped to the waist and decked out in Red Indian feathered headwear and face/body paint. An imposing figure? Tell me about it… The audience was dominated by teenagers with females outnumbering males 2-1, most evident at the stage barrier. With the band’s huge logo dominating the stage backdrop, the anthemic ‘Move Along’ (title track from the band’s second album) exploded from the stage, almost matched in volume by the cheer that greeted it. Next up ‘Fallin’ Apart’ (from the latest album) sounding much rockier than the polished album track, and with Ritter and co already in full flight, in top gear.

For the next song, ‘Dirty Little Secret’, Tyson shed his guitar and from that moment the crowd was treated to an ongoing dialogue with their hero in between songs. At one point he asked for a banner to be handed over which he read out before he recommenced his musical barrage. For over ninety minutes the band not only provided a musical performance but the most entertaining show which encompassed songs from each of their three albums.

Naturally, an encore was demanded and delivered with the crowning glory of the show appearing at the end with a beautiful and highly emotional rendition of ‘The Wind Blows’ and rousing ‘Give It Hell’ (both from the latest album) which the audience sang loudly, passionately and perfectly. Tyson gave a stunning performance; the supreme, fan-friendly entertainer. The band provided a superb instrumental display that turned radio-friendly pop into screaming banshee indie rock. But what I felt was so special about the band was the open, genuine affection shown for the fans, and the way their music connected so completely with the youthful audience, without patronising it. A great show, a great night.

The Band:

Tyson Ritter (vocal and bass), Nick Wheeler (lead guitar and backing vocal), Mike Kennerty (rhythm guitar and backing vocal), Caris Gaylor (drum and percussion), Kevin ‘Toad’ Saulnier (keyboards and backing vocal)

Set List:

Move Along, Fallin’ Apart, Dirty Little Secret, Stab My back, My Paper Heart, Believe, Swing Swing, I’m Waiting, I Wanna, Mona Lisa, Real World, It Ends Tonight, Damn Girl, The Last Song, The Wind Blows, Give You Hell.