Despite a dip in popularity, Fall Out Boy delivers its own stimulus package of catchy and clever tun

Despite a dip in popularity, Fall Out Boy delivers its own stimulus package of catchy and clever tunes at Time Warner Cable Amphitheater
by John Soeder / Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic
Wednesday May 13, 2009, 2:31 AM

Fall Out Boy has always had a soft spot for Cleveland, where this rock 'n' roll quartet from Chicago had its first gig outside its hometown.

"We played songs like this one right here," bass player Pete Wentz announced before the group dusted off "The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes," an uptempo tune off its 2003 album "Take This to Your Grave," in concert Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Amphitheater.


Wentz and his bandmates -- singer-guitarist Patrick Stump, guitarist Joe Trohman (who grew up in South Russell) and drummer Andy Hurley -- took the stage done up like banged-up bankers, complete with matching suits and facial bruises, courtesy of a little makeup.

Apparently, it was their commentary on corporate greed.

To drive home the point, video screens flashed a montage of Wall Street bad guys before "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arm Race," a highlight whose disco verses gave way to a pounding refrain.

"We feel stupid being given a stage this big and not speaking out," said band elder statesman Wentz, who turns 30 next month. The other members are in their 20s.

Fall Out Boy's own stock has taken a tumble, judging from the half-empty venue. Only three years ago, these guys headlined a sold-out show at the much larger Blossom Music Center.

They might not pack 'em in like they once did, but "Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes," "I Don't Care," "Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet" and other selections off the band's latest album, "Folie a Deux," proved Fall Out Boy hasn't lost its knack for combining dynamic grooves and clever lyrics.

"I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me," an older crowd-pleaser, erupted like a shook-up can of soda.

"What a Catch, Donnie" struck a mellower chord. Wentz dedicated the latter song to the staff of Cleveland-based Alternative Press magazine and thanked the publication for standing by Fall Out Boy.

Wentz handled most of the small talk between tunes, but it was Stump's rarefied crooning that carried the music to exciting places inaccessible to, say, your average Vans Warped Tour also-ran. It's not a stretch to imagine Stump graduating to Broadway musicals someday.

"That's quite a set of pipes you got there, fella," Wentz remarked after Stump did an especially fine job of belting out "Tiffany Blews."

Alongside fan favorites such as "Dance, Dance," the well-paced 90-minute performance also yielded fun covers of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" and OutKast's "Hey Ya!" that underscored Fall Out Boy's devotion to R&B and hip-hop.

Lending a hand with harmonies on "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" was Cassadee Pope of Hey Monday, which shared crowd-warming duties with three other acts, including All Time Low and Cobra Starship.

Metro Station, a foursome with a serious new-wave jones, was fronted by Trace Cyrus, the very tall and very skinny older half-brother of teen queen Miley Cyrus. His band's hit "Shake It" was even more infectious than your average Hannah Montana ditty.



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