You Me At Six
Underground Arts // Philadelphia, PA // February 23, 2019
Review by Ally Fisher
Just a few blocks north of Philadelphia’s City Hall, Underground Arts hosts a wide variety of shows, events and even the occasional burlesque in it’s two-room, 12,000 square foot space. Down the blacklight illuminated stairwell and past several murals reminiscent of the late Keith Haring is the venue’s standing room where Surrey, England-based quintet You Me At Six (also known as YMAS) would take UA’s intimate stage.
As a long-time fan of the band (from the early Hold Me Down days), I was ecstatic to once again witness Josh Franceschi, Max Helyer, Matt Barnes, Chris Miller, and Dan Flint’s raw talent, witty stage presence and no-thrills-just-music performance for the first time since the fall of 2013.
With a new album, titled VI, fresh into the universe, the adequately named “Back Again” tour heavily held the promise that the band’s new material would be played for all ears eager to hear, including my own. VI was undeniably my favorite album of the past year and continues to hold that spot.
Opening the show with the heavy and booming “Fast Forward,” coincidentally the album’s opening track, the near 100 fans in Underground Arts’s pit came alive and were energized, something that would continue to persist and never falter throughout the duration of the show, all within the first few lines sung by frontman Franceschi.
More of VI’s hit tracks such as “3AM” and “Back Again,” were notorious crowd pleasers as everyone did exactly as Franceschi had hoped which was to, “fucking dance and have a good fucking time” while the opening notes played and continued throughout each song performed.
And of course, “Reckless” from Sinners Never Sleep got pretty reckless (again, per the request of Franceschi’s cheeky audience engagement) and heartfelt singing from the audience during “Cold Night” from Cavalier Youth resonated throughout the intimate yet mighty space, making it feel like it was just you and the band for a serene four minutes.
The performance of slower tracks like “Take On The World” from Night People and “No One Does It Better” from Sinners Never Sleep warranted the aura of friends and couples hugging, cell-phone flashlights adorning the venue, and the collective notion of being surrounded by people who are there for the same reason you are: to see a really fucking good band that has impacted you in some way, shape or form.
However, before we all knew it, it was time for the arrival of the imminent encore signifying the closure of what was an incredible performance by five guys from England just doing what they love.
While YMAS didn’t play anything off their debut album Take Off Your Colours which just recently celebrated it’s 10th birthday, they did, however, play the one song everyone collectively hoped for; “Underdog” from the band’s sophomore release, Hold Me Down.
Debatably the band’s most popular and widely known song, regardless of your personal opinion, “Underdog” closed out the show with Franceschi pre-emptively yelling into his mic, “Where are all my underdogs at?” sending the crowd into a final wave of elation before the night was officially over.
You Me At Six are back again in the states until mid-march and put on a hell of a show that should definitely be checked out.
Photographer Credit: Jordan Curtis Hughes
