Music
Review: Jimmy Eat World cement their relevance in London
Celebrating the recent release of their ninth studio album, Jimmy Eat World celebrate the old and the new at London’s O2 Forum.
In a recent interview with Jimmy Eat World drummer Zach Lind, he expressed his delight that the band’s new material appears to resonate with fans in a live setting, almost as much as their back-catalogue.
His words more than ring true in tonight’s north London venue, as they relentlessly play through over twenty-five songs, spanning their extensive history. They don’t waste the opportunity to showcase songs from Integrity Blues, launching straight into lead single Get Right, and allowing time for the likes of Pass The Baby and You Are Free; the latter proving an euphoric and empowering live anthem.
These new songs sit against not only firm fan favourites – The Middle, Bleed American, Sweetness and Pain are all present and correct – but also a number of rarities, including the particularly well-received b-side, No Sensitivity.
There’s a more obvious nod to their Futures days, particularly as the main set closes with a one-two-three of the stunningly delivered 23, Work and the aforementioned Pain. Yet the balance is considered, never leaning too far towards any one record. It’s testament to their ability to write brilliant melodies, cemented by Sure and Certain‘s encore position, between two Bleed American takes.
More notable than their consistently strong songwriting is their time-honed skill, presenting themselves as musical experts. Never ones for overt gimmickry, the temporary street-lamps that border the stage are as theatrical or melodramatic as Jimmy Eat World will get. Instead, it’s a brilliantly delivered celebration of a key alternative influencer; one that definitively cements their relevance through an epic set.
There’s no further Jimmy Eat World dates confirmed just yet, but keep your eyes on Ticketmaster.co.uk for when this changes.
