Angels and Airwaves (AVA) front-man Tom Delonge must be wondering what he has to do to shed his blink-182 skin. His new band, which now exist alongside his first, are seven years old and have released four studio albums (and a short film) but are clearly still living in a shadow.
While recording, Delonge might be able to fool himself. He might be able to tell himself he's writing the best music of his career and that he won't be known as the boy who sang "all the small things" any more. But there can be no hiding from the truth on tour.
Playing at the Shepherd's Bush O2 in London last night (Saturday 14 April) there was very little pretence. Queuing up outside, there were just as many blink-182 as AVA tee-shirts and pre-performance discussions were mainly concerned with whether blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus, who lives in London, would be making an appearance.
If this wasn't crystal clear to Delonge, it became so half way through the night when his anonymous band-mates had a break and left the front-man and his guitar to it. As he told the story of how he lost his virginity to a friend's sister it became more and more apparent that Hoppus would be emerging at any second. Everyone knew it and Delonge knew they knew it.
Actually, Hoppus didn't show. The AVA front-man could probably sense the pang of audience disappointment but got away with it because he is probably the most popular member of blink-182. It will still have hurt him, though. He knows he's adored by the thousands of fans who come to see AVA - who, more specifically, come to see him - but deep down he knows they're there for the blink-Delonge. Not for the new him, not for AVA and certainly not for his band-mates.
The shame of it all is that AVA are a great band, full of original ideas. Aside from the love-or-hate vocals - which admittedly form a huge part of the performance - they are drastically different from blink-182. Fans must appreciate that and are clearly glad that two distinct Delonge-bands exist, but AVA will always come second.
It must be starting to sink in for Delonge that, no matter what he does, AVA will never shed his heritage and will always struggle to develop a new fan-base. He will always be that guy from blink-182 and AVA will always be that guy from blink-182's band.
Follow William Turvill on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wturvill
We saw AvA at every uk gig and he did the same storytelling segment; a great personal, comedic counterpoint to the love song he performed in that part of the show. Seriously, why would Tom's story in any way herald Mark's appearance?
To dismiss the other well respected, talented musicians in AvA as if they were background clutter is disgusting; they are incredible people and all integral to the band. If this guy hasn't heard of them before, that shows his ignorance... Matt Wachter... defines awesome =D
anyway I'm bored now.. I could go on for hours and in great detail, but this guy isn't really worth our notice.
Alex
You make it seem like Angels & Airwaves is some new band that can't get out of blink's shadow. If you talk to anyone who know anything about AVA, you would know that each band member means equally as much to us and that this band is nothing like blink.
No fan who bought a ticket to an AVA show would expect Mark Hoppus to make a guest appearance. We don't buy Angels & Airwaves tickets to get a blink-182 show. There is no such thing as a "blink-Delonge." Tom has always been the same person. Maybe you expected to see a blink show, but we expect Angels & Airwaves and nothing else. Sorry, you're one of the angry fans who think it was Tom's fault blink went on hiatus. But next time you write a review, do a little research, and don't bring your biases.
Your review is invalid.
ok we know that Blink 182 is THE band everyone knows him from and not as much a the frontman of AVA but that doesn't mean that people don't appreciate the music he makes with the other AVA members + I gotta be honest, Delonge is one of my favorite artists but when I go to AVA I mostly end up talking to Matt Wachter which is an amazing guy. sooo ... what you say about AVA fans not coming for the other members is a whole lot of crap
You have some valid points but fail to make them in a constructive manner, it just seems like you are butt hurt over something to do with blink/AVA and are trying to take it out in this 'review'
Seriously I don't want to bash you too much but next time write a better review.
Warm regards
GOD.
Yes I'm the real deal
angels and airwaves are an incredible live band and the recent addition of illan rubin has transformed their live show even further, no mention of his piano and drum solo
instead you spend the whole review discussing how this band fits around blink 182...
this is a very different band, and the sold out crowd who turned up saturday night knew exactly what show they were watching.
that show wasn't the tom delonge side project, it was the band angels and airwaves and it was outstanding.
Really sloppy journalism, if you can even call it that!
I also think you may be slightly retarded.. blink are a huge band as they do pop-punk and attract lots of fans for their one hit wonder songs... AvA will never be as big as blink simply for that reason.. I can't believe you can't see this.. that's the whole idea, due to his success he can afford to make better music that won't appeal to as many as Blink..
You are an awful reviewer.