REVIEW: All Time Low, 02 Guildhall Southampton

PUNK-rock band All Time Low took to the Southampton stage and blew audiences away, getting their UK tour off to a great start.

Supporting acts Waterpark and SWMRS warmed the audience up but were not a touch on the main act.

Despite being a fan of All Time Low for the last ten plus years, growing up listening to their music as it matured with me, this was the first time I have seen them live and I was blown away by their sheer stage presence and unforgettable performance.

Waterparks, from Texas, was the first supporting act to take to the stage followed by SWMRS, from California, and unfortunately I soon realised why I had never heard of either of these acts.

At first I was quite excited to see which acts the band which I had followed unwaveringly for so long had chosen to support them. But Waterparks were not the best and SWMRS were only a little better. Although, for all I know they could have been quite good but since I could not hear their singing over their instruments, I could not judge. I ended up waiting impatiently for them to finish, worrying All Time Low's sound might be off too.

But, I worried for nothing - All Time Low's vocals were spot on, the band made their instruments sing and the audience go wild.

Frontman Alex Gaskarth, guitarist Jack Barakat, bassist Zack Merrick and drummer Rian Dawson brought a special-kind of stage presence, performing exactly how they sounded on their studio-recorded records, probably even better.

All Time Low showcased a number of their hits from their future hearts album, gave a little treat from their new record Young Renegade and even played a few classic hits which gave them their name - leaving the audience buzzing.

The band had a number of tricks up their sleeves which made the night special. They were funny, bantered with the audience and by the end of the night were having bras thrown at them by admirers.

If you have not got a ticket yet and are an All Time Low fan I highly recommend you do so for one of their remaining 14 tour dates.

Beth Sharp