It’s Valentines Day, and okay, I’m spending it minus a date who will shower me in roses and chocolates, but on a positive note, I am about to spend an evening in the presence of one of the best bands on the face of the Earth.
A Day To Remember
What’s more, Neil Westfall is actually the most delicious guy I’ve ever seen in my life, and A Day To Remember manage to deliver some of the most cracking lyrics I’ve ever heard, so needless to say, I’m pretty stoked about the night to come.
Before we can get on with perving on Neil and co though, we have to listen to the support, who aren’t the support featured on the rest of the band’s UK tour, as this is some kind of last minute, special show.
First up are Manchester’s own, The Honeymoon Suite, who I didn’t really like as they launched into their first song, but by the end of the set I was totally loving them, mainly due to singer David’s camp enthusiasm for the show.
I mean it’s so hard to take your eyes off this guy as he swans about the stage dangling his limp wrists everywhere and shouting in the faces of anyone lucky enough to be pressed up against the stage.
Next up are my mates Failsafe who, despite living in Preston for three years and being friends with a couple of them, I’d never actually seen live before… shame on me. Anyway, we were yet again treat to an incredibly enthusiastic front man in the form of Jim, who is an obvious hit with the female audience members at the Roadhouse tonight.
The band as a whole have incredible stage presence, far more than the previous band, as they crash around the stage as though their instruments are giving them little electric shocks every time they try to deliver some sick sounds.
The only problem I have, and this goes for all the bands tonight, is that poor old Rob (drums) is stuck in a little back alcove out of the way of all the action, and if you aren’t stood right in from of the stage, you might even miss him and his flailing arms.
Then, after we get them out of the way, it’s time for A Day To Remember to take to the stage at long last; and as the opening chant of Downfall Of Us All rings out thought the compact Roadhouse; the air turns electric (maybe that has something to do with Failsafe’s set…) and the crowd erupts into a swirling mass of bodies
.
The set is filled with favourites from the bands album For Those Who Have Heart, A Shot In The Dark, Monument and my favourite The Danger In Starting A Fire. As well as crowed pleaser, a cover of Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone.
The only thing that let the night down was the failure to play many tracks off the new album, Homesick, yet it could be a good thing, as the few song’s they played didn’t seem to get the vocal sing-along that the older songs reaped.
Nevertheless, Jeremy McKinnon put as much of his back into the gig as he could, and the rest of the band’s sporadic choreographed dance moves added something just a little more enduring to the whole night.
The set ended after a mere 40 minutes, which left a lot of the fans grumbling on the way out, but with guitarist Tom Denney out of action and Kevin from Four Letter Lie filling in for him, it’s remarkable that he learnt that many songs so quickly, never mind playing each one almost flawlessly.
Despite the fact that A Day To Remember were a man down and jet lagged (after only landing in the UK a few hours prior to appearing on stage) it was everything you could ever hope for from a Valentines Day - well apart from taking Neil home - but of course, if I did kidnap him, it would mean no more A Day To Remember, and we wouldn’t want that!
Check out our review of the album Homesick Here
Look at the gallery of photos here
Watch out for our interview with the guys later this week...
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Photos By Joe Ivers