Live Review: Fucked Up @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple, 11/5

Since releasing The Chemistry of Common Life last year, Fucked Up have been one of the most consistently played bands on my iPod. Their music gets to me and turns me into something of a maniac as soon as the first gut wrenching wail rips through my ears. It has led me to see the band a couple of times already and each time I walk away from their shows knowing I have just witnessed a band that loves every minute of what they do and fans that adore them for it.

Right from the start of last night's show the fans kicked things into overdrive, launching themselves off the stage with reckless abandon, taking chances to kick the gong in the center of the stage or grab a mic and belt out a few lines before hurling themselves off the stage. It was an insane scene to witness, but Fucked Up made it even more so, throwing their all into their Polaris Prize winning masterpiece and pulling out all the stops for it.

By song three, "Golden Seal", Pink Eye introduced Andrew W.K. to play keyboard for a couple of songs, followed closely by Vivian Girls for their backing vocals on a couple of tracks, and then onto opener Katie Stelmanis for the last planned guest appearance of the night. Of course a few fans made their own appearances, but that only lent to furthering the awe inspiring nature of the performance.

The band themselves were as tight as they were the last few times we saw them, including that jaw dropping performance at the Pool Party this summer where they totally upstaged Mission of Burma. Smiles were on their faces as the witnessed their fans face plant after diving off the stage, and the seemed like there was nowhere on Earth they would rather be last night.

Obviously the draw of the night was to see The Chemistry of Common Life performed fully, and the band nailed every moment of the record, from the opening wails of "Son the Father" right on down the final, screeching notes of the title track. It was absolute bliss to watch it unfold right there on stage, and of course the band came out for a three song encore which sounded like a Misfits cover and two other songs but I could be totally wrong (my ears are ringing something fierce right now, need to replace my earplugs!).

Last night was possibly the show of the year for me, in energy and sound it had a bit of everything I could have asked for - new bands to fall in love with, songs from two of my favorite albums of last year being performed, energetic bands, and fans eager to fall over one another for a few hours of controlled chaos! If you can't get behind a show like that, what are you listening for in the first place!