Jimmy Eat World

Roundhouse, London - 3 Mar 2008

by Laila Hassani

The godfathers of emo live up to their legacy

"Amidst so many useless, meaningless bands out to make a quick stash of cash, JEW are the beating heart and the lifeblood, still going strong 15 years into their musical career. Yeah, they really DO mean it, man…"

No matter how long it takes “emo” to drown in a pool of its own regurgitated unoriginality, there will always be Jimmy Eat World. We don’t been in a cockroach-like manner, that they just won’t die. Definitely not. It’s just that JEW have always been the purest, biggest and best at what has become a dirty word, in a filthy, vapid scene. Amidst so many useless, meaningless bands out to make a quick stash of cash, JEW are the beating heart and the lifeblood, still going strong 15 years into their musical career. Yeah, they really DO mean it, man…

And we fucking love them for it. They’ve given us classic albums, brimming with songs in tune with heartbreak and the dancefloor in equal parts. You almost forget how vital this band are; like the best of friends, you pick up right where you left off every time – no matter how long it’s been since you last saw them. Which is why seeing Jim Adkins & co live is such a thrilling, joyous occasion, especially in a venue like the Roundhouse.

The swirl of ‘Sweetness’, a blistering ‘Bleed American’, a sped-up, aggro ‘Get It Faster’, the old-fans pleaser ‘23’, the utterly delicious ‘Hear You Me’… the hits keep on coming. Like running headfirst into a carnival, it’s the ultimate rush that strikes your head and your heart at the same time. For every tender or bittersweet lyric (like on ‘Goodbye Sky Harbour’ or ‘Pain’), there’s all manner of arse-kicking riffs; for each subtle harmony, there is a huge, heart-warming singalong waiting to burst forth. Newer tracks like ‘Big Casino’ slot in effortlessly alongside old favourites, and a reworking of ‘Your House’ glistens with a sparkling innocence as if were brand new.

The quartet aren’t usually big on between-song-banter, but tonight they can’t stop talking, all giddy and hyper – about the tour, playing London twice, Download festival (they even give us their best metal impressions). Maybe it’s the excitement at the tour winding down, and them being able to head home to their families after this final stretch in the UK. But it is at the very least this combined with the heroes’ welcome they receive, and the electric atmosphere of a crowd and bands just revelling in bloody great songs.

JEW have long since cemented their place in the history books; a genuine band who still give it all they’ve got onstage no matter how tubby they may get or how many kids they have. So if it means tolerating a weekend of metal at Donnington to see them again this June, and getting this same spine-tingling feeling all over again, we’ll be there in a flash.

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