New Found Glory Crime In Stereo Four Year Strong Set Your Goals @ Glasgow Barrowl...

Brooding-bunch Crime In Stereo undoubtedly take influence from their New Jersey roots and bands such as The Movielife and The Bouncing Souls, and in recent years have recorded some of the most powerful and incredible albums of the American underground alternative scene.
This brief 20-minute set of timid rock, mostly taken from newest album 'Crime In Stereo Is Dead', is so average that it would struggle to impress even the greatest CIS fanatics. There is an odd mixture of ferocious "are you ready you bunch of motherfuckers?" openings and the kind of synchronized jumping that this evenings headline act would have been oh-so proud of six years ago. Crime In Stereo, a band that appear to have potential in abundance, ultimately fail to deliver and it is unfortunate and unlikely that any neutral present will be in a rush to hear more.

Four Year Strong, fronted by 1990s wrestler Typhoon lookalike Dan O'Connor, are highly impressive from the outset with their original blend of hardcore lined pop-punk. Hailing from Worcester, Massachusetts, Four Year Strong incorporates the extremes of their obviously varying musical influences into their songs and live performance. The band continuously alternate from hardcore-esque breakdowns to infectious synth-clad pop melodies that simply beg to be shouted aloud. Racing into songs such as the highly impressive 'The Takeover' and the catchy-as-hell 'Catastrophe', the momentum is continuous from the start. The most impressive song and crowd reaction alike comes in the form of new single 'Bada Bing Wit' A Pipe', as this Glasgow crowd erupt in a frenzy of mosh-pits and gang chants. If going on this performance holds any significance, expect to see more of Four Year Strong this side of the blue soon.

It would not be surprising if the Barrowlands was less full this evening had Set Your Goals not been the main support. The self-proclaimed 'heaviest pop-punk on the planet' are in the middle of the hardcore/pop divide, with a Gallows support tour in February being evidence to their adaptability. Set Your Goals provide the kind of pop-punk that hardcore kids can embrace and vice-versa and it is absolutely fascinating. Dual vocalists Jordan Brown and Matt Wilson are mesmerising to watch and one would be forgiven for mistaking their performance as being predominately hip-hop influenced. The first four songs of the set blend into one, however, nobody even pauses for breath. It is ruthless and relentless as the band race through songs such as 'Mutiny', 'This Very Moment' and the aptly-named 'Goonies Never Say Die'. The highlight of the set comes in the form of penultimate and most-impressive song 'Echoes', with its dual-vocal harmony and undoubtedly difficult ending. One of the most exciting bands of recent times has got the world at their bouncing little feet.

And so after a long support onslaught which seemed to get better with every song, Florida's finest pop-punk masters New Found Glory are finally ready to keep up the inexorable pace set this evening. With an impressive backdrop of NFG-branded banners and flags, 'Glory, Glory Hallelujah' is played through the PA system as the 21st century pop-punk veterans race onto the stage to an absolutely deafening applause. Vocalist Jordan Pundik expresses their gratitude to be back in Glasgow before turning the venue on its ancient little head with set opener 'Understatement'.

The band play a host of songs from their various studio albums and EP's such as the fast-paced 'Something I Call Personality', the slightly more mature sounding 'All Downhill From Here' as well as classic movie soundtrack covers such as 'Never Ending Story' and the Goo Goo Dolls' 'Iris'. 'Sincerely Me' and 2002 sing-a-long anthem 'Hit or Miss' were reminiscent of the days when Sum 41 and Blink 182 made this genre unique. The gap in the middle of the floor was widening as each song passed, with hundreds of enthusiastic bodies throwing shapes of all sorts. The inclusion of ballad-like 'I Don't Wanna Know' was an unnecessary interruption to the fast-paced set, as was the cover of Sixpence None The Richer's irritating song 'Kiss Me'.

Pundik and co return post-encore for one final attack. Still, eleven years on, New Found Glory continue to lead the line of pop-punk, pioneering their unforgettable sound through the ages. 'Better Off Dead' and 'My Friends Over You' round off a night of energy and passion of which I have never seen at a gig in Glasgow in years. The applause rings out as one individual holds their two crutches aloft - now that is what I call pop-punk.

By Andrew Burns
Photo by Jo Bristowe