Soundwave 2010 - Jimmy Eat World

Shortlisted as the most popular band among the acts at Soundwave Festival 2010, Jimmy Eat World are a live act made for Soundwave and after coming out of recording sessions 2 weeks prior to Soundwave week and managing their sidewaves as well did not disappoint anyone, except for those My Chemical Romance fans that solely bought tickets to see them, but that's another story.

Following Jane's Addiction, Jimmy Eat World were the first 'night' set and what better way to start off by getting the crowd into it with one of their many sing-a-longs - Sweetness. Though the set was mainly predictable, this opener was probably not as fans were expecting A Praise Chorus to open (which evidently came right after), but for the majority of the people at Soundwave, they did opt for a majority of Bleed American songs with remnants of their other records - which left most fans satisfied.

Definitely not the loudest set imaginable for Jimmy Eat World, with at least 4 tracks from my favourite record - Clarity, it really wasn't the best set to mosh too, although it did make Faith No More louder than first imagined. So maybe there's a positive eh? JEW followed radio favourite Let It Happen and Always Be from their newest record - 2008's Chase This Light. JEW apoligised and damn right so for not touring down under for the promotion of Chase This Light, but made up for it even more (as much of a lie as it was although I have to admit that the crowds this year were probably near 50000) by telling Sydney that this is the best place they ever played. I'll leave it up to you to decide.

Vintage were waiting for vintage tracks this didn't take long with Lucky Denver Mint up next yet, we were still waiting for a louder track!! Nevertheless, people at Eastern Creek with their special other had a good time and it made it even better with 23 from Futures. JEW expresses their emotional all here making it a memorable set.

But surely Short. Fast. Loud. didn't sponsor the event for this old school crap right? You betcha! Get It Faster finally started to get spme speed and sound into fans early and the pit finally started to have some hardcore energy that I was waiting for. No Sensitivity emerged and those that hadn't the song weren't sure if it was really them, but it sufficed for a little buffer song, before more from Futures - Work and Futures following and the crowd began to get some life, peaking in the right time for the last 30 mins of the set!

Though Jimmy Eat World's enegy was not like many other bands before, their ability to write such a wide range of songs was won over fans instead of their stage banter and antics, like Jane's Addiction or AFI before them. somewhat lifeless to what some of their records sound like but the music up close and personal is infinitely better than paying 20 bucks for a CD.

Down the stretch is where Jimmy Eat World like to excel, we aren't disappointed with the latter parts of their Soundwave Sydney Set. Starting off the finale with their single from Chase This Light – Big Casino begins the loudness and rocking attitude we had been waiting for and fans really knew what was to come, or at least hope! Blister, their popular track from Clarity set the pit off, and then followed by Hear You Me and their energy was really starting to peak; but as the clock was winding down and fans actually didn't know how many songs were left due to the timing problems earlier in the day (possibly due to Alexisonfire?), overdrive turned on and volume set to 11 – Bleed American starts to blast before crowd favourite – Pain and as JEW announce good night and farewell to Sydney, there could only be one song left – unless there was an encore (which had not happened so far at the festival and if could happen I guess right?) The Middle began to rock the house down and the radio hit from 2001 made it a very successful set for JEW and most fans weren't too disappoint, except for a lack of Futures track, but that could always wait for the sideshow at UNSW Roundhouse on Tuesday. Near perfect Music Festival set and I am personally glad that they got to play 23, so all in all a very successful outing for Jimmy Eat World – 8/10.