"Not only are you guy's super-rad-knarley-awesome...but you kick ass!"
Punk/pop rockers Good Charlotte are in particularly appreciative mood tonight, playing to a 500-strong crowd at London's Islington Academy - at a time in their career when they could've probably packed out Wembley Arena.
The band's core, the brothers Madden, are giving off some major energy tonight but guitarist Billy gives the stripped down stage its visual flair.
Energy isn't really something that's lacking, with the rammed venue resembling something of a Beatles concert prior to the five-piece taking to the stage. "Anthem" is the big opener, followed by the introspective, big riffing "Walk Away" and "S.O.S". Later on, however, a badly-paced mid-set salvo of "World Is Black", "Hold On" and "Ghost Of You" don't do much for the young teen crowd, particularly following the monster hit "Girls And Boys".
"You know, there's probably more STD's up here on stage tonight than you'd find in a strip club", and from one old chestnut to another they rip into their biggest hit, "Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famous". Back up to speed and racing through to set closer, and new single "Predictable", you get the feeling that the Maryland natives have just about done enough with the new material.
Good Charlotte back, and they're certainly not showing signs of second album fatigue - which can only be a good thing for pop charts around the world.
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