Review: All Time Low at Metro City

All Time Low at Metro City
w/ Mayday Parade, Lauran Hibberd 
Wednesday, November 1, 2023

American pop punk outfit All Time Low brought their Australian tour to Metro City on Wednesday night.

Opening the set with Lost in Stereo from their third album Nothing Personal, the atmosphere erupted from the very beginning. From there, the band tore through an impressive set list that covered the last two decades and boasted something for everyone from their fan base. The close-to-capacity crowd, made up mostly of the fairer sex, made the decibel range increase dramatically whenever they played one of their top songs, and there were plenty to get through!

Now twenty years in, All Time Low are worthy of all their accolades. Comprised of Alex Gaskarth on vocals and guitar, Jack Barakat on lead guitar, Rian Dawson on drums and Zack Merrick on bass, their stage presence is relentless and energised, and the crowd was delighted by their authentically styled rock show. There was no need for dramatic visual effects, just good stage lighting and good music that made Metro City feel like a perfect storm of stadium vibes and a nightclub rock gig.

Over the years, All Time Low have evolved musically to follow popular music trends whilst remaining relatively simple and humble. The most recent collaboration with Avril Lavigne, Fake As Hell, was featured in their set, demonstrating the incline of the band's vision and trajectory.

Renowned for their vigorous touring ethics, the band has expressed they found the covid years tough, as the world stage was limited due to the pandemic. But on Wednesday night it was clear they were happy to be back in Australia, sharing the fun they had exploring Rottnest Island during the day before the show.

Their performance was musically tight and aligned with their audience. Nearly everyone knew every word to every song, setting an interactive and invigorating scene. English-born frontman and guitarist Alex Gaskarth united the crowd on Modern Love, initiating a sing-along which he accompanied on piano. Fan favourite was without doubt Monsters, a track which was originally recorded with Demi Lovato and released late in 2020.

Their finale Dear Maria, Count Me In, left the crowd hungry for more. The band assured their audience they would be back at the earliest opportunity, and also promised new material—adding to the nine previous studio albums they have already released.

Following the Perth show, the tour is set to continue throughout Australia, highlighting the band’s latest releases from 2023 album Tell Me I’m Alive, in addition to their most notable anthems. With a discography and a fanbase that continues to grow, All Time Low will no doubt continue their musical journey into the alternative pop history books.

MELANIE SCRAFTON

Photos by Mikaela James