The screams of the underage girls were deafening moments before the Neighbourhood was set to start at Turner Hall Ballroom. Though the crowd of “Hoodlums” was not as large as I expected, the energy was definitely high.
Smoke blanketed the stage as a recording began to play to hype up the crowd. One by one, the band mates: guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott, and drummer Bryan Sammis made their way to the stage and took their designated spots. Finally, after screaming and crying (I may have been the one crying, but I’ll never say for sure) from the crowd, lead vocalist Jesse Rutherford ran to the front microphone in his usual attire: A tattered tank top, a backwards hat and his many tattoos.
Immediately, The Neighbourhood started with their song “Let it Go,” which depicts a story of where Jesse Rutherford is from, which he revealed to the crowd before starting. Song after song, The Neighbourhood powered through their album I Love You. Their stage presence dominated the room and one could sense not only their energy, but also their passion.
As the concert neared its conclusion, the band played a few chords, starting their radio hit “Sweater Weather,” which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Most of the crowd chimed in as Jesse Rutherford sang. On lead vocals, Jesse took liberty with the melody, belting out the lyrics while gyrating all over the stage. It was pure pandemonium.
They played two more songs, which included “How”, the first song on their 2013 album, and “Afraid”, a song about the pains and worries of being replaced. The Neighbourhood thanked the crowd and exited the stage while everyone cheered and begged for more. After a few minutes, the lights in Turner Hall turned on, which killed every ounce of hope that the band will return on stage.
I was devastated to have the show over since I had looked forward to it for so long (despite seeing them at Summerfest in July of this year as well.) I cannot get enough of The Neighbourhood and I am sure the other “Hoodlums” in Milwaukee feel the same way. Hopefully they return in the near future and when they do, I highly recommend checking them out.