DVD Reviews

Fall Out Boy: **** Live In Phoenix

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That Fall Out Boy are a highly produced and marketed band becomes glaringly obvious over the course of the live gig featured on this CD+DVD 2disc set. On studio recordings, the award-winning, triple platinum-selling vessel for the rebelling youth of today are relatively melodic… sometimes even catchy. Unfortunately, even fans may have a hard time enjoying this, their first live DVD, as melody is all but lost in a mix that is plain and simply bad, with Patrick Stump's flawed vocals blaring loudly above FOB's characteristic pop-punk guitar and drums. These poor vocals become even more offensive as they take on Michael Jackson's "Beat It" in a cover that could be improved upon by teenagers at a local battle of the bands. The level of gimmickry to which Fall Out Boy are reduced in their live show speaks volumes about the quality of their playing. To open the show, the four band members jump enthusiastically out of trapdoors in the stage floor. In a show filled with twirling, jumping, head-banging and even sliding around on the floor, they're nothing if not energetic. Drummer Andrew Hurley does prove to be the least showy and most talented of the fall-out-boys as he is placed to the front of stage for an impressive drum solo in the latter stages of the gig. Alas, this is followed by more gimmickry as bass player Pete Wentz and lead guitarist Joe Trohman set up stage on an island in the middle of the crowd. And though a less cynical soul might insist this is all the name of good showmanship, here it is all glitter and very little substance. On the other hand, some fans may just be delighted to be afforded a brief glance of Pete's bare chest, as FOB trade shamelessly on the sex appeal of their bass player in a surreal and laughable moment where he goes inside a transparent box to change his "trademark" hoody. But as the audience is depicted as being composed mainly of attractive teenage girls sporting "I heart Pete" T-Shirts, it would be a terrible shame to disappoint their adoring public. As an aside, Pete should never be allowed to talk in public. Why, oh why is he urging underage teens to get it on after the show?

Special Features include: All Island Music Videos; Behind the Scenes Documentary; Bonus Live CD Album.

Review by Jenny Mulligan