Don't Give Up On Them
For the second consecutive night, Arizona rockers The Maine took to the stage at O2 Academy Birmingham sandwiched in between We Are The In Crowd and tour headliners All Time Low. It may have been a bitter January night, but in the Midlands it suddenly felt like Halloween as The Maine began their set, thanks to bassist Garrett Nickelsen sporting a neck-to-ankle skeleton costume. The appearance of long-legged vocalist John O'Callaghan too began to conjure thoughts in the mind as he graced the stage; his physical sleekness and uber-tight skinny jeans suggested that even if his musical career fails him, he could become a prime candidate for a position at the Ministry of Silly Walks. Yet in the company of The Maine, it seems all boyish jokes should be cast aside as these once-lovable lads continue their voyage into musical adulthood.
The band's 2011 release Pioneer is a prime example of their evolution and this is certainly portrayed in their live performance, with their set this tour littered with tracks from their third album. Songs such as When I'm At Home demonstrate the group's ambitious vision, with the riff-heavy, 90s rock-inspired composition illustrating that this youthful band is now showing musical maturity way beyond their years.
The Maine packed their support slot with a hefty number of songs, from the strutting My Heroine to the poppier throwbacks of Listen to Your Heart. The performance of Some Days was an absolute highlight of the set, with the band effortlessly traversing from the quaintness of the verses to the forcefulness of the choruses. With acoustic guitar in hand, frontman O'Callaghan and his bandmates strode into their penultimate song of the set, Into Your Arms, with the band's popular single rousing the slightly subdued crowd.
Bringing the tempo back up with finale Don't Give Up On "Us", the young American ensemble wrapped up a solid, if somewhat forgettable, support slot. Despite lacking the punkier edge of tour mates We Are The In Crowd and All Time Low, Tempe troupe The Maine held their own and gave a performance that was dynamic and bold, whilst also occasionally intriguingly tender. The teenage audience were not overly responsive, withholding their bouncing energy and allowing the gig's atmosphere to dip. Promising talent The Maine did what they could, but ultimately their maturing musical identity meant that they just did not quite feel suited to the bill.