Hella good buy? > this Sunday evening Hellogoodbye made a stop at Martini Ranch in Scottsdale during what looks to be the front of a long tour. The tour commemorates the electropoppers' November album release Would It Kill You, their sophomore album and not with the Drive-Thru label this time.
A fun show it was but couldn't help but notice at least a dozen of roughly 75 in attendance looked like they were in junior high in 2006 when Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! was released. The band seems to be taking a different direction with this album, unfortunately, and while the new stuff isn't horrible it was a bummer to only hear a handful of old gems [which did NOT include 'All of Your Love'].
The fresh stuff is really strings-heavy with the keyboard practically orphaned. Aside from the drummer, the rest of the quintet switched their guitars excessively and a ukulele even made an appearance. Meanwhile, the golden synth sound of Z!A!V!D! seemed to have went the way of the 8-track.
Nevertheless, good shows this intimate are medium rare at the old town ranch and good company makes for a swell time. Plus, they encored with 'here in your arms' which was pretty close to a true encore interrupting extended Metalhead warm-up music with the house lights kicked on.
:j Marc
