Countdown to my date with Fall Out Boy – 8 days to go

When I  was about fourteen I was introduced to my first fandom. I had read Harry Potter and was psyched for each new book to come out, but my first obsessive love was Fall Out Boy. I was head-over-heels, from the very first powerful notes of Patrick’s impressive voice. It was from my love for Fall Out Boy that I discovered Panic! At The Disco, The Academy Is…, The Cab, Paramore, Cobra Starship, and many others. But FOB started it all. And my fangirl experiences from this early period prepared me for my Whovian days. Oh, I’m a well-seasoned fangirl by now.

The first time I saw Fall Out Boy live was February when I was in Grade Ten. It was a birthday present for a friend, another dedicated FOB fan. We arrived early and somehow managed to luck out and get forced into a spot directly under the air-conditioning vents. Plus, we were close enough for the water that got sprayed onto the crowd. We swayed, jumped, yelled, screamed, and sang with the boys while being caressed by breaths of air-conditioning. Gorgeous.
There really is nothing like seeing your favourite band live. I would have been happy without the air-conditioning. But Brisbane in February? It’s brutal.

Now I am breathlessly awaiting the 27th of October, when I will be reunited with my high school sweethearts: Patrick, Joe, Andy, and even Pete. I have missed them. When they went on hiatus back in 2010, I was devastated. It felt like the end of my childhood. But when I heard “My Songs Know What You Did Last Summer (Light ‘Em Up)” on the radio for the first time I was grinning all day. They weren’t done! So now, after about six years of waiting, I get to see them again. In the same place they captivated me oh-so-long-ago.

To celebrate this prestigious event, I’m going to count down some of my favourite Fall Out Boy songs. These will be in no particular order. I can’t put a numerical value on these songs. They all rock equally as hard.

So to start us off:

Grand Theft Autumn

This was the first song I could play on repeat for hours and not get sick of. I had the lyrics plastered all over my school books and would annoy my friends constantly with my singing the chorus over and over again.

Where is your boy tonight? I hope he is a gentleman.
Maybe he won’t find out what I know.
You were last good thing about this part of town.

And then that catchy, distorted guitar comes in and it’s all over. This song is from the album Take This To Your Grave, released ten years ago. This was FOB’s first studio album. Before this was an EP called Fall Out Boy’s Evening Out With Your Girlfriend. Take This To Your Grave was slightly more polished and combined Patrick’s composing abilities with Pete Wentz’s lyrics. The EP had Patrick doing both. Taking this stress away from Patrick did wonders for the band. I may not be Pete Wentz’s biggest fan, but his lyrics are solid. Having these two musical powerhouses collaborate made for a catchy album that was just that little bit angsty. Perfect for a teenage girl.

I’d like to take this time to thank whichever girl it was who broke up with Pete just before this album was released. Without her, we wouldn’t have these twelve amazing songs.

Almost every song on this album is about break-ups. I always listened to it when I was mad as hell. At this point in my life I hadn’t actually experienced a break-up but I could relate to the emotions.

Most. Definitely:

Let’s play this game called “when you catch fire”
I wouldn’t piss to put you out, no
Stop burning bridges and drive off of them
So I can forget about you
– Tell That Mick He Just Made My List Of Things To Do Today – 

As you read those lyrics, I bet you were thinking of someone. I know I was. Am. Well, I have the song stuck in my head now. Damn, I want to listen to this album!

I used to know this album so well I could tell you what was happening at 2:42 during “Grenade Jumper”. Now it’s been so long that it would almost be like listening to a new album. Which I suppose isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s like me going back to read Harry Potter after a few years (I know, I know. How shameful). You remember the basic idea of everything but there are bits and pieces that can surprise you.

I hope that you enjoyed “Grand Theft Autumn”. If you didn’t watch it, go back there now, click on it, and enjoy musical happiness for a few minutes.

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