Initially, I was a little ashamed. I’m not going to lie. Telling your friends that you’re going to see Good Charlotte in Metropolis isn’t exactly the response they were expecting to hear when they casually asked what your plans were for Thursday, August the 14th, 2008. Some didn’t say anything for what I hope to be fear of offending me, while others blatantly laughed. Like I said, I was ashamed.
But all shame and humiliation disappeared as soon as I got to hear bits and pieces of Benji and Joel doing soundcheck at the new recently-opened Apple store, when I visited an hour before the show. Hearing them play the chorus to “Misery” made me giddy. Yes, that’s right. GIDDY. I knew they were going to be amazing. The show at Apple was a short set; nonetheless, it was enough to lure their loyal fans into lining up in front of the store 2 hours prior to their performance. And disappointed, they were not. I’m sure each one who attended can agree with that statement.
Arriving at Metropolis, the band Metro Station took the stage first & really set the mood for what’s to come. Although a lot of people didn’t know most of their songs (myself included), the band knew how to work the crowd. They had everyone dancing and wanting to shake shake, shake shake sha-shake it (pun intended).
Second in line was Good Charlotte. Again, that feeling of giddyness overcame me the moment they started playing. Next thing I knew, I lost complete sense of reality as well as my surroundings, and danced like a crazy maniac to songs like “Little Things” and “Boys & Girls”. In my head, I was 15 all over again. Song after song, they had the audience at the palm of their hands, dancing and screaming, especially during Joel’s adorable banter about how Montreal girls were beautiful. Their setlist was well balanced with past hits such as “The Anthem” and “Hold On”, as well as songs off their new album “Good Morning Revival”, such as “The River” and “Dance Floor Anthem”. It was an excellent blend of old and new, making it one show to remember. I know I definitely will.
Shortly after, Boys Like Girls came on stage. The Boston-based band didn’t really leave me impressed, if I may be so frank. Perhaps it was because I only knew one song and even then, I didn’t like it all that much. Or perhaps it was because I secretly thought that the lead singer, Martin, was guilty of plagiarizing All-American Rejects’ frontman, Tyson Ritter’s signature stage moves. Either way, I was not impressed. So much so that I spent the entire duration of their set on perezhilton.com, thus missing the infamous climax of Martin tripping on stage and getting seriously hurt. For this reason, as many have speculated, the band cut the set short and called an ambulance immediately after the show.
Despite this seemingly hateful review of their sound onstage, I do sincerely wish that he’s okay. Furthermore, I really admire the fact that regardless of his injury, he finished singing that song they were playing, albeit with blood all over his mouth, making it look more like a horror movie than an actual concert.
Nonetheless, horror movie or not, fans of the band looked as though they had a blast. Their pop sound coupled with their lyrics pertaining to the sanctity of teenage summer love truly made it the “soundtrack of [their fans'] summer”. And again, pun intended. 
