Fall Out Boy haven’t visited us for quite a while, but it didn’t seem to matter for the arena is packed to the rafters, with it has to be said a wide age range of attendees, which is impressive. And being as its Halloween, quite a few had turned up in fancy dress and were up for a party, as are the rest. They have been touring their latest album ‘So Much (for) Stardust’ extensively in the states and tonight they unleash it on the Brum crowd. After the introduction they appear, and surprise, in costume. Singer Patrick Stump dressed as Beetlejuice, Pete Wentz as wolf-grandma, and guitarist Joe Trohman a ghostbuster, in fact kicking off the night with ‘Love From The Other Side’ from the album. Yes, they have confidence alright.

It felt like a massive Halloween party, as their ripped through a 20+ set and even the newer stuff had the crowd singing their little heads off, with pyros and flames aplenty, even out of Wentz’s guitar at times. There seems a great friendship and understanding between the band, even taking the preverbal out of each other during talking to the crowd. With the appearance of a massive dogs head at the rear of the stage, swung vigorously by a stage hand, it wasn’t just about the production that was impressive. The band were on fire, with three covers including ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ and the aptly chosen ‘Halloween’ by the misfits. Mixed up amongst classic Fall Out Boy tunes like ‘This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race’, ‘Sugar Were Goin Down’ and ‘Thanks For The Memories’. The production, the band and song choices were spot on. Let’s hope they don’t leave it so long next time, and although there were some tricks like the large bubble balls being sent into the crowd, it was a treat of a night.

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe