Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, Iowa, a Wednesday Night and a nearly full room. Everyone was absolutely talking about All Time Low!
I have to be honest, this show was a whirlwind, bucket list, dream show that I was honored to attend, and photograph. All Time Low and The Cab are HUGE parts of my life when I was younger.
I drove just shy of 550 miles round trip in about 12 hours to shoot this show, and I wouldn't change a thing! Making the trip from Minneapolis down South to Waukee Iowa was such a fun solo road trip for me. I listened to all the bands on the bill for this show, including their older stuff that I was hooked on back some 10+ years ago. I remember calling around to all the different Best Buy stores near me, asking if they had the new ATL record in stock and begging my mom to drive me to go get it. Replaying those songs on the 4 hour drive there and another 4 hour drive home, arriving around 230am.
OK, enough of reminiscing for me, let's talk about the show. It was AWESOME. All Time Low bringing Mayday Parade, The Cab and up and comers The Paradox, was such a perfect bill, this Wednesday night was full of nostalgia, whitty jokes, and good vibes!
The Paradox
The Atlanta based 4 piece pop punk band “The Paradox” is proving that pop punk isn't dead and possibly more alive than ever.
These guys are so fun to watch, I can't lie. They blend jokes, catchy hooks and high energy into their jam packed 20 minute set. Between songs they talk some friendly smack to each other and explain how the next song came to be.
With a feature from Travis Barker on one of their songs, they have some big shoes to fill but they're filling them well if I do say so myself. They have great energy on stage, quality vocals from their lead singer and some solid vibes during their set!
Make sure to catch these guys when they come through your town, you're in for a treat!
The Cab
The Boys are BACK! After roughly 10 years, The Cab returns to the stage, without skipping a beat.
These guys are still as absolutely rock solid as ever, if not better.
Getting to see these guys live again, for me personally, was a dream come true. I've been a fan of theirs since 2008. To top it off I got to shoot their set. This night, I will never forget. Not to mention, my wife and I used their song "Endlessly" during our wedding ceremony. These guys have a special place in my heart.
Their 7 song set included the classics, and a new song from their most recent EP.
Wrapping up their set with what Lead Singer Alexander DeLeon describes as "one of the band's favorite songs to play live". "Temporary Bliss" hits so well live! It's clear the guys love playing it. Followed up with a rock solid version of arguably one of their most popular songs, "Bounce" and ending the set with "Angel With A Shotgun", Alex walked off stage letting the rest of the guys soak it in.
Truly a class act from Alex and an absolute clinic on how to perform.
The guys in The Cab just released a new era of their music, with a 4 song EP called 'Road To Reign: A Prelude’. A new style that fits well in their live show. Alex admitted "Stay This Way Forever" was about their journey to getting back together and all their fans.
I was so happy to see them live for the first time in truthfully, what could be over 13 years. (I may or may not have checked the last time they were back in my hometown of Milwaukee) I was singing at the top of my lungs that first 3 songs we got from the pit, where some of the baricade fans were pointing at me, almost as if to acknowledge that a photographer actually liked the band on stage.
Can't wait to see what The Cab will do in the future. All I know is I truly hope they come back to the midwest soon!
Mayday Parade
“Nostalgia kings” as I called them, prove that after 20 years, they're still going strong.
Starting their set off with a new song “Under My Sweater” the 5 piece then took it back to their roots with a larger than life version of Jersey. Again, I was singing this one as loud as I could in the pit.
The guys brought a ton of energy and solid musicianship to Waukee’s newest venue just west of Des Moines.
With interactive graphics and 2000’s emo running through the venue, it was clear the crowd got exactly what they wanted.
Mayday Parade sound great, even jumping around and getting the crowd into it, lead singer Derek Sanders and the rest of the band didn't skip a beat. Their 10 song set, was truly a blast from the past. Including "Piece of Your Heart" from 2018 and "Kids in Love" from 2010.
Including some of their newly released music, songs like "By the Way" and "Pretty Good To Feel Something". By the Way was super catchy. Derek handled the harder notes well and kept the energy alive by jumping around the whole set!
Wrapping up the set, 2 of my personal favorites "Black Cat" and "Jamie All Over" made sure everyone in the room was taken back to 2008
Such a great set and trip down memory lane. make sure to check out their new stuff, I was pleasently surprised, and I think you will be too!
All Time Low
Everyone is DEFINITELY talking about All Time Low.
The 4+1 piece (Bonus guy, Dan) Maryland born All Time Low is back with a vengeance!
Fresh off newly released album "Everyone's Talking" 2 weeks prior. All Time Low headline the 2 year old Vibrant Music Hall, about 15 minute Southwest of Des Moines, with a nearly sold out crowd on a mid-week Wednesday night.
Opening their set with the “Cold Open” from their latest album, the boys in ATL are back after 4 years. The set full of fan favorites and typical banter! With a multi level stage design, full of LED light bars and light towers with a dozen moving heads each, drummer Ryan sat keeping the guys in time and adding some fun fills to crowd favorites.
Using their full stage production to it's fullest capability, songs like "TimeBomb" hit just as hard as 14 years ago when first released in 2011, the only thing missing was the stage full of people. IYKYK.
The crowd kept Vibrant Music Hall on a Wednesday absolutely going all night. From the balcony to the corners of the pit, there wasn't much extra room. While not advertised as a Sold Out, it sure felt like it.
Going through their hour and a half long, nearly 25 song set, the ATL crew took it back to the beginning. Taking a moment to slow things down with a heart wrenching version of "Missing You" right in the middle of the set.. Which truthfully got me choked up a bit. This song hits hard for many, myself included.
Quick moment of appreciation - Special shout-out to lead singer Alex Gaskarth, being able to push through a vocal chord infection after cancelling a show or two I believe just a couple weeks prior to tonights show. He sounded perfect all night not skipping a beat and giving us a surprise during a song later in the set.
As per usual, Lead Guitarist Jack Barakat and Alex keep the whitty banter we've all come to know and love throughout their set and kept the charm of an ATL show alive. It's truthfully surprising that ATL is still so damn good live after all these years.
Following a quick “intermission* with "Goodnight, C'est La Vie" playing on the video board at the back of the stage, the guys bring it back at 100% full energy and bring us down the home stretch of their set with "Butterflies" accompanied by an outfit change for Alex, Jack and Zack also shed a layer up top.
Just a couple songs later, a moment that caught me off guard was ATL playing a couple songs with features of folks who weren't at the show
First was“Hate This Song” they released that featured the guys in Iprevail, and absolutely, they did them proud. Alex screaming a few lines that truly surprised me. Who knew Alex had it like that?
Followed up by Monsters, featuring Blackbear and or Demi Lovato. (Depending on what version you're used to. Alex handled the whole song front to back with precision. Including the rap verse with ease like Blackbear in the online favorite "one breath challenge" just before walking off stage simulating the end of their set.
The stage, dark. With only an "On Air" graphic in the upper right corner on the stage wide video board.
Returning back to the stage solo is Rian for a quick drum solo, quickly joined by the rest of the guys to play their final songs including "The Weather", "Lost In Stereo", "Poppin' Champagne" and an awesome version of “the Beer Song” I'm sure to come to a future album! (Again, IYKYK)
Last but absolutely not least, ATL finished out the night with the cult favorite "Dear Maria" accompanied by a handful of Wacky Wailing Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men across the stage. To which, Jack decided to air box and "hug" them as the song and set came to a close.
In true ATL fashion, a guitar toss and a louder than life crowd wrapping up the night, the guys in All Time Low are too much fun to watch live. Alex carried the guys with great vocals when he wasn't joking around with Jack. Zack, calm cool and collected brought the energy and partnered with Rian to keep the guys locked into the groove all night.
Safe to say, I'm definitely talking about this night for a LONG time.
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