All Time Low, Genting Arena, Birmingham - review with pictures

I first saw the Maryland quartet in concert a decade ago, and yesterday the band recreated their stripped-back stage set-up from years ago to perform the much-loved record.

Blazing into single This Is How We Do, All Time Low brought the sunny, upbeat number to life with soaring guitar hooks, rolling drum beats, and catchy lyrics that have shaped a generation of music fans.

Through hits Six Feet Under the Stars, Shameless and Holly (Would You Turn Me On?), the crowd danced non-stop to the infectiously catchy odes, stopping only to ignite their phone lights and wipe tears from their eyes during the band's first ballad Remembering Sunday.

Ending the first half of their jam-packed show on the hip-shaking Poppin' Champagne, the energetic four-piece left the crowd begging for more.

A quick changeover encapsulated how much the band has evolved during their career, with the stage boasting large LED screens, pyrotechnics, confetti cannons and dazzling lights - a far-cry from their simple back-drop seen just 30 minutes before.

Despite the advancement in their stage show, one thing that has always remained constant with All Time Low is the charisma and humour they bring to every show.

The group regularly engage in silly antics on stage, and last night was no different with guitarist Jack Barakat giving his brand new shoes to the crowd, vocalist Alex Gaskarth throwing fan-made cookies to their delighted drummer Rian Dawson, and frequent puerile jokes that had the crowd laughing from start to finish.

All Time Low's members have an impressive rapport with their fans, one that they have built for years through their endearing stage presence and relatable lyrics which make their live shows feel so personal.

"Its amazing to be playing for you here tonight Birmingham," bellowed Alex.

"We're happy to be playing So Wrong It's Right, but we really want to put an emphasis on our new work.

"This is a full-circle moment for us, being able to show you how far we've all come together."

And that they certainly did, with a varied set that highlighted the versatility and musical talent of the group.

From new singles Last Young Renegade and Nice2KnoU, to earlier tracks Lost in Stereo and Weightless, the band still put the same amount of passion and ambition into every single note of each song.

Afterglow closed the second half of the show in a blaze of glory, with fireworks engulfing the catwalk jutting into the crowd, confetti cannons raining down, and Alex strutting across the stage adorned with a pride flag.

The crowd were still begging for more though, and the band obliged their wishes with a raging encore that included the one song from So Wrong Is Right that they'd saved until last, and arguably their most well-known track - Dear Maria, Count Me In.

In one last fit of raw energy, All Time Low cemented its status as an iconic alternative band with a polished show that highlighted all the greatest moments of the group's career.