Jimmy Eat World
September 28, 2010
Fox Theater in Pomona
Jimmy Eat World brought the heat from their hometown of Mesa, Arizona to the Fox Theater in Pomona to celebrate the release of their seventh studio album, Invented. Finding commercial success with their 2001 album Bleed American (later changed to become self-titled due to the 9/11 attacks), Jimmy Eat World had overcome the odds after being released by Capitol records. Realizing the importance of their fans, Jimmy Eat World were early adopters of Twitter and now boast over 1.6 million followers.
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The cutting distorted guitar line of “My Best Theory” was propelled by a shuffling drum beat and the soaring vocals of Jim Adkins which started the show with a bang. “Bleed American” was ferocious with its bulky detuned guitar riff and the screamed backing vocals. A storm of palm muted guitars for “Your New Aesthetic” had Tom Linton adding some supplemental vocals that nicely complemented Adkins.
Employing an almost punk rock tempo, “A Praise Chorus” was driven by Rick Burch's humming bass line. While most bands would stack their setlist with a bunch of new material, Jimmy Eat World continued with familiar tunes or fan favorites by expertly dispensing “Let It Happen.” Revisiting their widely touted album Clarity, the slow burn of “For Me This Is Heaven” momentarily slowed the pace.
Slashing guitars would roar again for the anthemic “Futures” as Adkins stomped his foot on the stage with each cutting guitar line. A small pocket of new songs blended in nicely after ten songs when they played “Coffee and Cigarettes” which brimmed with stacked vocal harmonies. Adkins picked up an acoustic guitar for the mid tempo groove of “Movielike.”
More than likely played at dances everywhere in 2001, couples held each other tightly for “Hear You Me.”
Guaranteed to be the second single released from their new album, “Evidence” follows the textbook Jimmy Eat World songwriting blueprint with its alternating quiet and loud dynamic. Linton would finally get center stage with his lead vocals on “Blister” which still remains as one of my favorite Jimmy Eat World songs. The looping stacked vocals of “Goodbye Sky Harbor” closed their main set.
After a shimmery version of “23”, Jimmy Eat World showed they were human by mixing up the vocal harmonies near the end of “Pain”. Adkins later joked that it was now a really Jimmy Eat World show since they messed up. A false start for “The Middle” was quickly remedied as Adkins switched out to his custom Fender Telecaster Thinline guitar. “Sweetness” had the whole front of the floor bouncing around as the occasional crowd surfer went over the barricade. It was quite the evening to celebrate the release of their new record.
Hailing from Scotland, We Were Promised Jetpacks did a superb job of warming up the crowd with a selection of songs from their album, These Four Walls. Adam Thompson's Scottish brogue added a unique warmth to their sonic attack. A band to watch out for in the future.
Personal Bias: I still remember seeing Jimmy Eat World at the Glass House nine years ago.
Crowd: Surprisingly a number of younger fans mixed in with those in their mid thirties. Jimmy Eat World seems to win a new generation of fans with each album.
Overheard in the Crowd: Adkins thanked Pomona for being good to them all the years noting they frequently played at the Glass House.
Random Notebook Dump: While they closing out KROQ Acoustic Christmas in 2004, Adkins said he felt stupid for playing any sort of guitar solo after watching a show stealing set by Muse.
Setlist:
“My Best Theory”
“Bleed American”
“Your New Aesthetic”
“A Praise Song”
“Let It Happen”
“For Me This is Heaven”
“Futures”
“Big Casino”
“Dizzy”
“Coffee and Cigarettes”
“Movielike”
“Hear You Me”
“Evidence”
“Work”
“Blister”
“Goodbye Sky Harbor”
“23”
“Pain”
“The Middle”
“Sweetness”
