Playlist Rewind: New Found Glory

The Trocadero is the kind of venue that has something for everyone: all ages are welcome downstairs, and those of us who like to enjoy a brew with our rock can congregate upstairs. This dynamic was especially interesting on Saturday night, when we caught New Found Glory touring in support of their most recent effort, Not Without a Fight (Amazon).

Fans of their more recent work, as well as some of the more mosh-minded old school fans, gathered downstairs in the sweaty sea of bodies that presses toward the stage all night. Those of us who remember them fondly for such releases as Nothing Gold Can Stay and From the Screen to Your Stereo found ourselves old enough to hang out upstairs and drink our way through some nostalgia. This Phillyist has seen them more times than he can count on both hands, but this is probably the first time he saw them from above.

Opening with their current single, "Listen to Your Friends", NFG displayed the synergy we should expect from a band that's been together for 12 years. The song has the familiar punch that has become NFG's calling card. The guys look like they'd be more at home upstairs with a beer than in the pit, but their kinetic show has lost little if any of its spirited frenzy.

The real gems were old school tunes like "Hit or Miss", "Boy Crazy", and "Dressed to Kill". These songs, which defined this Phillyist's entrance into his awkward pop-punk phase, were the highlight of the night. Don't get us wrong, the new stuff is solid. And that's good, because it's just a question of style: if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

The new stuff is a natural progression. It's got the same sense of urgency, but, in a lot of ways, it's most accessible to those who were introduced to NFG in the past few years. The album title, Not Without a Fight - not to mention their fiery performance at the Troc, seems to answer accusations by many critics that NFG and their ilk are over the proverbial hill. Those who would like to see New Found Glory bow out shouldn't hold their breath.

Their show on Saturday night was a sold out affair, and, no matter how old they are, there's always an audience for that brand - there's always a new generation looking for their own Nothing Gold Can Stay.

As long as New Found Glory keeps making music with the same attitude and lack of pretension, and keeps sweating buckets in their efforts to translate their excitement to the stage, they'll remain relevant.

Image via Flickr user freschwill.