Amidst a teeming, capacity crowd at Seattle’s Showbox TheaterThursday night (Oct. 11), Jimmy Eat World, touring in support of theband’s forthcoming LP Chase the Light, unveiled a slew of newtunes. But first, supporting act Maritime brought their punchy brand ofindie-pop all the way from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or as guitarist DanHinz called it, “the land of beer, cheese, and fat women.” The band’sset-list mixed old favorites like “German Engineering” with new trackslike “Pearl” and “Hours That You Keep,” both off their forthcomingalbum, Heresy and the Hotel Choir, out Oct. 16 on Flameshovel Records.
Forsinger/guitarist Davey von Bohlen, the show was more than just a chanceto debut new tracks, it was also an opportunity to catch up with a fewold pals. “[Jimmy Eat World] are all my friends and we don’t see eachother very much any more,” von Bohlen told SPIN.com after his set, “sonow we have to play shows together if we want to hang out.”
Finally, Jimmy Eat World stormed the stage and thundered through “Big Casino,” the first single from Chase This Light.From then on, it was all aces, as adoring fans were treated to gemafter power-pop gem. With a polished stage presence and their massivewall of distorted guitars, the band rattled off hits spanning the scopeof their ever-growing discography. Fan favorites included “Lucky DenverMint,” “Get It Faster,” the crowd-surf inducing “Bleed American,” and”A Praise Chorus,” during which von Bohlen joined onstage to providespot-on backup vocals. New tracks also permeated the set list, mostnotably the acoustic-guitar driven “Carry You” and the pulsating “Letit Happen.”
Now together for some fourteen years and on theverge of releasing their sixth studio album, the Jimmy Eat World seemedwell aware that more than just their sound has evolved. “Our standardsare a lot higher now,” quipped sweat-soaked frontman Jim Adkins. “Wehave to tune and shit before we start songs.”
We asked: Jimmy Eat World’s new album is called Chase This Light. In life, what are you chasing after?
