Color, Catharsis, and Crowd-Pleasers on All Time Low's 'Everyone's Talking' Tour
All Time Low is one of the most formative pop-punk bands of the mid-to-late 2000s, bursting onto the scene with brightly colored skinny jeans and swooped hair. Now, 20 years into their career and 10 albums deep, they’ve proven they’re here to stay.
Their latest album, Everyone’s Talking, arrived on October 17, and the band kicked off an eponymous tour to support it. I’ve been listening since middle school, so on a personal level, I was excited to finally see them in Los Angeles at the YouTube Theater on October 22—just days after the album drop.
The stage design echoed the Everyone’s Talking cover, with the band wearing monochromatic jumpsuits—Alex Gaskarth in red, Jack Barakat in green, Zack Merrick in blue, and Rian Dawson in yellow. Behind them, massive color-blocked shapes radiated a sense of optimism and hope. Openers The Cab and Mayday Parade set the tone earlier in the night; the bright, illuminating palette for All Time Low contrasted nicely with the more melodramatic emo aesthetics of the support acts. I was in my feelings, but All Time Low brought me right back to an all-time high.
The band’s set began on a somber note with “Cold Open” before tearing into a head-banging rush with “Oh No” and “SUCKERPUNCH,” all from the new record. From there, they sprinkled in fan favorites spanning their catalog. Nothing Personal and Wake Up, Sunshine were the most represented outside the latest album. The bright, hyperpop of “Damned If I Do Ya,” “Lost in Stereo,” and “Weightless” balanced the darker edge of Last Young Renegade cuts like “Dark Side of Your Room” and “Dirty Laundry.” I was also glad they pulled in non-singles, including “Glitter & Crimson” from Wake Up, Sunshine, and my personal favorite from Tell Me I’m Alive, “English Blood // American Heartache.”
With such a deep discography, some eras were lighter. Future Hearts and Dirty Work each landed one or two songs, with the latter represented only by “Time Bomb.” As Dirty Work is my least favorite, I didn’t mind, though I would’ve loved another Future Hearts track or two—because it felt like a return to form. The band also didn’t include a song from their 2012 album, Don’t Panic, which was a bit of a disappointment.
Of course, they closed with their most popular song, “Dear Maria, Count Me In.” While I would’ve loved to hear more from So Wrong, It’s Right, there’s no denying it’s the perfect way to end the night. Minor nitpicks aside, the Everyone’s Talking tour stop was a blast. It’s rare to see a childhood favorite with this kind of longevity, and All Time Low’s sharp songwriting and punchy hooks have clearly secured them a loyal fanbase for years to come.
