Jimmy Eat World, Panic! At The Disco, Alkaline Trio – The Hi-Fi, Sydney 24/02/14

Sidewaves are renowned for giving you a night you won’t forget and the Alkaline Trio, Panic! at the Disco, and Jimmy Eat World triple bill was no exception. Fresh off Sydney Soundwave, the bands were still roaring with energy before a Hi-Fi packed with eager fans. 

The night kicked off with Alkaline Trio. Flaunting convention, which dictates the majority of the crowd show up only for the final acts, there was a line around the corner leading to the venue well before any music was due to start. The punk rock triumvirate from Illinois definitely didn’t disappoint and performed a solid set with a fair portion of the audience singing along.

The setlist included renditions of I Wanna be A Warhol, Sadie, and This Could Be Love, as well as a myriad of others from across their discography. She Took Him to the Lake was one of the most well received, with screams of appreciation as soon as it was announced. Their set ended with an older song and a definite crowd favourite, Radio

As soon as the Trio disappeared from the stage, there was a surge of excitement within the crowd. Panic! at the Disco‘s arrival was predictably met with screams and applause. The band played an amazing set that would have felt short-winded to any fan, though no one could complain of a lack of fan favourites, they were all there.

This is Gospel, Miss Jackson, Girls/Girls/Boys and Nine in the Afternoon received the warmest receptions, with most of the crowd screaming out every word, but it was inevitably The Ballad of Mona Lisa and I Write Sins Not Tragedies that had everyone dancing, jumping, screaming, or all three.

Gallery: Jimmy Eat World, Panic! At The Disco, Alkaline Trio – The Hi-Fi, Sydney 24/02/14

Photos by Jack Cowling

Lead singer Brendon Urie was clearly in his element, slowly stripping off jacket then shirt and throwing himself around the stage to the delight of the audience. Bassist Dallon Weekes likewise put on a show for the crowd, licking the microphone stand and throwing picks into the crowd, sending fans diving to the floor. 

In the aftermath of Panic!’s set it became clear that most of the crowd was there to see them. A raft of people exited the mosh pit once they realised that there wouldn’t be an encore, despite enthusiastic chants of “One-More-Song!” They left the hardcore, band-shirt wearing fans in their wake, who quickly pressed forward as the lights dimmed for the final act of the evening.

Arizona outfit Jimmy Eat World arrived onstage to an enthusiastic though tired crowd. Within the first couple of songs, they had been reenergised. The band opened with I Will Steal You Back from their newest album, Damage, which was well received and set the tone for the rest of the performance.

As the set progressed, the crowd were drawn further into the music and the mosh pit became the typical sweaty, cramped, and somewhat dangerous zone expected at these kinds of shows. Sweetness and Bleed American were strong favourites, though the night most certainly peaked when hundreds began belting out every word of The Middle.

The night was a definitive success, with swarms of fans leaving happy, whether a die-hard for Alkaline Trio, Panic! at the Disco, Jimmy Eat World, or all three. 

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