Sunday 20/03/05 Jimmy Eat World @ Academy, Manchester

Tickets for Jimmy Eat World live shows should be prescribed to depressed people by the National Health Service. This may seem somewhat anomalous seeing as J.E.W are emotastic and, therefore, have the stigma of being associated with miserablist emo kids in square glasses and stripey poloshirts but hey, emo kids have fun too you know! In fact, judging from tonight, emo kids have a lot more fun than everyone else, in the world, ever! Jimmy Eat World’s set is filled with crowd pleasers from obvious tracks off Bleed American to early gems off 'Clarity' like 'Lucky Denver Mint' and 'Crush', oh, and of course, many new songs off the brand spanking 'Futures'. Few could be disappointed by a set that encompasses so many great songs off so many great albums.

 

It’s easy to pretend not to like Jimmy Eat World, for emo kids they are more pop than post hardcore, for indie kids they err towards being unfashionable and their decidedly young fanbase can be off putting to the more discerning back of the room headnodder. But the sooner everyone stops pretending the better; Jimmy Eat World are the purveyors of happiness, good tunes and, even youthful vitality. So go and see them live and when they play set closer 'Sweetness' sing along to your hearts content without giving a second thought to crow’s feet or laughter lines.