Reel Big Fish

Amongst the dark, cold streets of Shepherds Bush lurks the O2 Empire, a well-established music venue occupied by thousands every year. When one simply walks past the building, it blends into the seemingly endless row of pale-brick buildings that line the pavement. However, inside this building tonight, on the 9th February 2012, a burst of high-powered ska music is going to make it come alive with colour in the form of Reel Big Fish, and that is definitely something worth taking a second glance at this particular building for.

The first support act, The JB Conspiracy, are a great warm-up for fans of Reel Big Fish, as they have all the right components to bring a small taster of up-and-coming ska music into the atmosphere; energy, talent, and dancing brass instrument players. Although many of audience haven't yet arrived and the venue is rather empty, this certainly doesn't seem to dishearten TJBC, and they play a tight set, even attempting some audience participation which is well-received by the crowd. They may not have had absolutely everyone up on their feet, but they definitely set many toes tapping, and what more can a support act who are relatively unknown in the UK ask for?   

The following support act, Orange, strut confidently on stage, although their appearance provokes some confused looks amongst those unfamiliar to this L.A based band- 'Orange virgins' as frontman Joe Dexter later dubs us- as their look consists of a wild-haired, wide-eyed man in a military jacket, a blonde Billie Joe Armstrong lookalike, and a bloke in a sombrero. However, as soon as they start playing, they are taken much more seriously. They are a punk act, clearly inspired by The Sex Pistols and other 1970s punk bands, and their set- despite some slight sound issues- is very engaging, and a hell of a lot of fun. They also interact with the audience several times, and it is clear that they are all born entertainers, dedicated to what they are doing- and why shouldn't they be? They really get the crowd going, and it is incredibly refreshing to hear raw punk music- not POP-punk, just pure punk- being brought into the 21st Century.

The headliners are up next, and looking around the venue, at some point during the sets of the two support acts, the crowd has flooded in and filled up the standing area, as well as two seating levels above. Reel Big Fish are being eagerly awaited. The theme tune from Superman plays, and the six members of the band stroll on stage, casually goofing around and instantly connecting with the audience. Aaron Barrett, in his trademark sunglasses and Hawaiian shirt, simply grins at the crowd and at his fellow band mates, who then blast out the recognisable into of Everything Sucks, and the audience go wild. Reel Big Fish, and alike bands, are some of the only gigs where the crowd can be clearly heard 'do do do-ing' along to the tune of the brass instruments before singing along to the lyrics, and it sets a united feeling amongst every person there. Not only that, but RBF fans are definitely a dedicated bunch, as there isn't a single song that strikes a dull chord with the audience, as they know nearly every word to practically every song. For example, songs such as Don't Start a Band, I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend Too, Suckers and Trendy get everyone singing along, and the instrumental 241 is purposely played as a song to get everyone deliberately dancing instead of just wildly jumping up and down. Cover songs from their album Fame, Fortune and Fornication are also well-known, so much so that anyone who doesn't know them is told to "fuck off" by the band. The song S.R., played towards the end of the night, is used to take every last ounce of energy from the audience and make sure they throw it into this gig by adding alternative death metal, country and dance versions of the song onto the end of the original, prompting headbanging, square-dancing and booty-shaking. The last two songs played for the encore are as classic as it possibly gets for RBF, as their two most well-known songs- Sell Out and Take On Me- finish the night off perfectly. Every fan in the crowd knew that there is no way they would leave the venue without hearing those two favourites blown out of the speakers.

Reel Big Fish are a fantastic live act, as they sound just as good on stage as they do in the studio, but with the added extra of hundreds of fans screaming the lyrics back at them. Although the same techniques and introductions have been used by the band for the past three times I've seen them, the routine never gets old, and that's because the positivity and enthusiasm that the band spreads throughout the audience every time, giving each person a big ol' smile on their face when they leave- and who could ever get bored of that?!