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On and on, with reckless abandon. Such is the modus operandi of Angels & Airwaves, as shown last Friday at the Kool Haus. While there can be no denying that many people still yearn for some sort of blink-182 reunion, Angels & Airwaves have proven that sentiment moot because quite simply, they seem like a confident, ethereal, and impassioned rock outfit. As Call To Arms began the show, and within the first two lines, you’re hit with “THIS IS IT CAN YOU HEAR ME!?”, it feels as though everything Monsieur DeLonge says enters your neo-cortex blistering hot, like a 1000x faster Vortex. As he continues, “We can go, only if you believe”, you get the feeling that he legitimately believes this, and it resonates so deeply that, even if you choose not to believe, you at least have to consider the possibility. And what does he want you to believe in? Yourself? Him? The band? The world as your oyster? Maybe some of that, maybe none of it, but I’ll be damned if the dude isn’t really, really convincing.

So two albums in, A&A seem to have found a niche, their celestial brand of rock designed to echo, with anthems around every corner. This is a good fit for a live setting, especially an intimate one. The thing that I appreciate most about A&A is that even if you don’t like every song, they shoot for the moon all the time, so there’s something to appreciate, sway in awe to or consider the constellations in wonderment to, in every song. When a band can make you feel not only like the venue has no roof, but as if the concert is constantly shifting in the atmosphere, above and below clouds, beside and beneath stars, you know - you know - you’ve found something to hold onto.

Essentially every song was an anthem, but personal favourites of mine were: It Hurts (with the line ‘Your best friend is not your girlfriend’ having particular gravitas for anyone who has ever faced that distinct dilemma), Distraction, The Adventure (this song is pure bliss, and I have a sneaking suspicion, try though they may, A&A may never top this 5 minute anthem for the ages), Good Day, and Sirens (contains my favourite lyric on the new album: ‘I do this from time to time, where I like to watch you as you sleep, I do this from time to time, where I like to think of you with me…’). Even those stir crazy Blink fans were sated as Tom performed an acoustic version of Reckless Abandon. I’m pretty sure the band even performed My First Punk Song, originally by Boxcar Racer, although clarification of this is needed.

The verdict was simple, the fans seemed fulfilled, as was I (play Do It For Me Now next time though), the band seemed tight, the drumming was military-style authoritative, and Tom DeLonge had lost none of his affability, gusto and charm. If I could enjoy a show like this from time to time I would be better off, a believer, feeling alive, floating somewhere in and around the stars…

Setlist:

Call to Arms
It Hurts
Love Like Rockets
Everything’s Magic
Distraction
The Adventure
Breathe
Reckless Abandon/Rite of Spring (acoustic)
Good Day (stripped down version)
Secret Crowds
The Gift
Sirens
Valkyrie Missile

Encore:
True Love
The War