Live Review : New Found Glory w/ The Audition & Stealing O'Neal

10 April 2007 | 8:17 pm | Staff Writer
Originally Appeared In

Cameron Chambers talks about the resent New Found show in Melbourne

Sunday April 8th 2007 @ The Palace (Melbourne) 



There was no doubt in my mind that this show was going to be amazing. Anyone who has seen NFG before knows that the band is incapable of putting in a bad performance (remember their show @ The Corner w/ Reggie & The Full Effect... EPIC).


Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter


Local boys "Stealing O'Neal" opened up and they did an admirable job. It was refreshing to see punters actually getting into a support act rather than drinking themselves into oblivion (not that there's anything wrong with that) and the band's performance seemed to improve as the audience responded more and more to their pop - punk/rock hybrid. The only sour point was a cover of the "Arctic Monkey's - You look good on the dance floor" - I hate that band. Enough said!



Late additions to the bill were US lads "The Audition". Although I was disappointed that Paramore (USA) had pulled out "The Audition" were a band I've been listening to a lot over the last 18 months so I was keen to see them. Although their front man's voice sounded drastically different to the band's recorded output, TA were still able to play a great set. The rest of the band wasn't as energetic on stage as I had imagined them to be but they still put on an enjoyable show - which included the bulk of the tracks of their debut record "Controversy Loves Company". I look forward to the band's return for some headline shows.



I can't think of anything more intelligent to say other than New Found Glory fucking ruled. Kicking their set off with "Understatement" the band was a ball of energy from the opening chords. The Palace was close to capacity and you would've been hard pressed to find anyone not singing along (well, except for the dude in the Billabong tee next to me who was absolutely smashed and had no idea where he was).



If I gave a song by song breakdown of NFG's set we'd be here for hours so just know this. Their 26 song set included track's from all 4 of their full length albums as well material from "Nothing Gold Can Stay" and "From The Screen To Your Stereo". They played everything from "Better Off Dead", "Sucker", "Sonny" and "The Story So Far" right through to "Failure's Not Flattering", "All Down Hill From Here", "Oxygen" and "On My Mind". A definite highlight was their cover of " The Glory Of Love" (which dedicated to Mr Myagi).



The newer material from "Coming Home" translated surprisingly well live - sounding as ballsy as anything else the band played. The band looked like they were having a ball playing the new songs as well, regardless of how album sales are currently going.



NFG also let the crowd know that they are currently recording "From The Screen To Your Stereo Part II" - which seemed to make everyone's night!



Hands down one of the best shows I've been to in recent memory. Every song was played with the enthusiasm of a band that's been at it for 2 years, not 10. The mix was great, the stage show ruled and the vibe was amazing (nothing better than seeing your washed up mates crowd surfing to NFG). If the band stays true to their word, then Australian audiences are going to be seeing NFG a lot in the years to come.