The 8 Bit Frenzy Tour

The 8 Bit Frenzy Tour

Liverpool Academy, Manchester Academy 3 and Birmingham Academy.

April 17th, 18th,and 20th 2013

The 8 bit Frenzy Tour consists of 4 bands in total but you only get to see three play on any one of the 8 nights of the tour. Unfortunately the three shows that I attended meant that I missed The Bottom Line every time.  I did however get to meet Callum, Matt and Max that make up the trio from Portsmouth, as they were busy working the merch stall at each show.  On buying a copy of their album 'Role Models?' I realised that these are a band that I will have to try and see live as soon as the opportunity arises.

Taking stage as supporting band the nights that I caught the tour were Nottingham quartet Lacey, made up of Graham, Pete, Josh and Dave (Dave is also the guy who provides both Patent Pending and Bowling for Soup with some of the fabulous caricatures featured on their album covers, flyers and merch).

Singing all original songs with the exception of Ellie Gouldings 'Anything can happen', Lacey unleash their rock onto the audience and get them fired up and ready for the main event.  Their latest single 'Let It Go' is one of those songs that would not sound out of place being sung by a large crowd at one of the summer festivals.

Next to the stage was Bowling for Soup's bassist Erik Chandler, who suffered with technical difficulties at the show in Liverpool but absolutely knocked the crowd off their feet in Manchester and Birmingham.  Backed by Patent Pending's Anthony, Corey and Rob, Erik performed material such as 'Tonight's the Night' and '(What's So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding' before stunning the audience with an acoustic rendition of 'Christina'.  Erik's gravelly voice and passion for music shows why he is still able to have an audience eating out of the palm of his hand even without his usual band buddies by his side.

Anyone old enough to remember the old 8 bit Commodore computers was in for a treat as Patent Pending took the stage.  Making their entrance to a version of 'Douchebag' which had been digitally made to sound like the music from an old computer game, Patent Pending (comprising of Joe, Anthony, Marc, Rob and Corey),  exploded onto the stage into their opening song of 'I Already Know (She Don't Give a Shit About Me)'.  Patent Pending then went on to bounce their way through their set list including songs such as 'Anti-Everything', 'The Way You Make Me Shake', and 'Dance Till We Die'.

Anyone who had never encountered Patent Pending before was in for a real treat; from Joe getting the whole audience to swing their pirate hooks in the air during 'Psycho in Love' to the slow motion mosh pit during 'Spin Me Around', (an acoustic song written by Joe for his wife). During the slow motion mosh pit at the Manchester show (and they even had a slow motion crowd surfer).  In Birmingham the band had been informed by the venue that crowd surfing and the wall of death were not allowed and therefore they invented 'inter band crowd surfing' where many of the band found themselves being caught by other members of the band (quite often Marc!).  Instead of inciting a wall of death at the usual interval of 'Psycho in Love' they got the audience to do a 'wall of love hugs and tickles'.  Team this with stories of how tour manager Dave was a Swedish movie star or how Mcfly's road crew (playing in the venue next door in Birmingham) taught the boys to dance like Justin Bieber.  Throw in cover versions of  'I Want It That Way' by The Backstreet Boys, Lit's 'My Own Worst Enemy' or Smashmouth's 'Allstar' all of which they covered on their 2012 EP 'Spring Break 99' and their cover of Bowling for Soups 'Shut up and Smile' from the One Big Happy Album, you couldn't help but smile, bounce and sing all night! 

However, leading into the song 'One Less Heart to Break' the evening did take on a more serious note as Joe explained to their second family how they lost a friend of the band to suicide and how no one should be in a position where they feel so alone that they feel they have no other option but to resort to taking their own life, with Joe reminding the crowd that no matter how many times they feel they don't belong they have a home there in the 'dark sweaty room' with the rest of the second family.  Usually these sort of speeches from a band are met with sighs and hecklers, but not here.  Listening to Joe is like listening to an old friend and the respect between the fans and the band is obvious.

Although the message in 'One Less Heart to Break' is a serious one, the guys don't let us dwell for too long before more shenanigans ensue.  Whether it is a conga around the venue (Liverpool) or a sing along to 'Soft Kitty' and 'The Big Bang Theory' theme, Patent Pending keep you on your toes throughout the whole night.

I have now seen patent pending six times now and can honestly say that I have not seen the same show twice!  I have also had the pleasure of meeting Joe, Anthony, Marc, Rob and Corey and they really are the most awesome guys in pop punk!  

Patent Pending is a band that should be bigger than they are and everyone deserves to have them in their life because when you see/hear them you can't help but smile and feel proud to be part of the second family!