With an unexpected bank holiday and the Queen’s funeral taking place earlier in the day, some doubts linger as to whether the last date of the Three Days Grace / 10 Years tour would happen at Birmingham’s O2 Academy. Fortunately, the powers that be decided to go ahead and, when we arrive, the venue is absolutely packed, with a queue still snaking round the block outside. Fair play to security, who manage things well and get the eager crowd in as quickly and painlessly as possible. Inside, the crowd is a diverse mix of young and old, with people sporting an array of shirts from stadium rock to death metal, showing the wide-ranging appeal of the two bands playing today.
Opening the night, 10 Years arrive to a big cheer, although the muddy sound does the mid-tempo melodic groove of their opening number few favours. The band are clearly enjoying themselves, and their music, which sits somewhere between P.O.D and latter-day Incubus in the chain of inspiration, sets the pit alight. Unfortunately, the sound issues mean that anyone stood further back feels almost removed from what’s unfolding on stage. It’s a shame, as Fix Me has a powerful chorus, which sees the audience clapping along gamely, while heavier tracks like Dead In The Water keep the pit (hyper)active. Newer numbers, such as The Optimist are similarly chunky, with a strong, nu-metal undercurrent but, although a slow, piano-led cover of Heart Shaped Box should offer an interesting digression, it’s somewhat lost in the sonic murk. The set’s highlight is arguably Novocaine, which has a cool, writhing bass line and breathy vocals, and the band really drive themselves through closing numbers Wasteland and Shoot It Out, but they never fully overcome the sound issues that dog the set. It’s a shame, as they’re a perfect fit for the headline band, and it’s clear there are more than a few fans in attendance, but tonight’s showing (through absolutely no fault of the band) is unlikely to win any converts to the cause.
The PA makes a significant leap in terms of both volume and clarity as the evergreen Jump Around blasts out, announcing the arrival of Canadian rockers Three Days Grace. Eliciting a huge cheer as they walk out on stage, the band are in their element here, playing to an enthusiastic audience who begin singing along with opening belter So Called Life, and keep it up for the duration. With slick presentation and transatlantic swagger, the band have the crowd clapping along to the seething Animal I Have Become, while singer Matt Walst straps on a guitar for the darker, less polished Home (harking all the way back to the band’s 2003 debut), which only ups the levels of enthusiasm pouring from the fiercely partisan crowd. The schizophrenic Pain, with its processed vocals and impossibly hooky chorus allows for a slight change of pace, as does The Mountain, although it’s a less successful track, not least because it sounds rather like a cross between Bring Me The Horizon and Survivor. That said, the damn chorus sticks in your head like glue, and it’s still rattling around in there some two days later.
Rewarding the crowd for their unalloyed enthusiasm, the band slam into I Am the Weapon (from aptly titled new album Explosions), airing the track for the first time ever, although it’s greeted like an old friend by the heaving pit. Next up, the band celebrate Matt’s tenure with a rousing Pain Killer, before heading into a three-track acoustic set, which emphasises the vocal harmonies (and piano playing prowess) of drummer Neil Sanderson. While it allows the band’s genially goofy humour to shine through (especially as they bicker over whether to call it “soccer” or “football”), it arguably slows the pace a touch too much, although a victory lap that includes the inevitable, I Hate Everything About You brings it all home, and leaves the crowd baying for the encore.
Taking the stage in front of a packed and passionate audience, both 10 Years and Three Days Grace played to their strengths, with plenty of crowd interaction from the very first track. Unfortunately, 10 Years were hamstrung by a bafflingly bad mix that never fully resolved itself, and while the pit clearly went all in, it was a tougher sell for those further back. Three Days Grace had no such problems, with a much louder, clearer mix greatly aiding their hook-laden material. It’s a strong showing, and it’s particularly pleasing to see such a mix of young and old turning out to support a Monday night rock show. Technical gremlins notwithstanding, both bands gave their all and the audience responded in kind, making for a sweaty and engaging evening all round. Expect even bigger venues next time out.
