The unexpected rainstorm couldn’t hold back Set It Off as they set the Underworld stage on fire on their first headline tour of the UK.Unrivalled for their consistent energy both on stage and record, Set It Off arrive to the defiant opening notes of ‘Forever Stuck In Our Youth’, rousing the packed out Underworld in seconds. Lapping up every scream of their lyrics from the dedicated crowd, frontman Cody Carson soon crowd surfs his way around the room. ‘Breathe In Breathe Out’ ironically provides convenient advice, as the Underworld begins to heat up.
The last few months have taken Set It Off from strength to strength– a pop-driven successful record under their belts, supporting Black Veil Brides and Crown The Empire – now a headline UK and US tour, and the smiles on each of their faces speak a thousand words of gratitude.
Punching through the catchiest hits from ‘Duality’, Cody spits his signature venom through ‘N.M.E’ and ‘Bleak December’ as flawlessly as on record while Dan Clermont provides consistently energetic fretwork throughout. Fan favourite ‘Dreamcatchers’ calms the racing atmosphere with a reflection designed for waving arms and a showcase of Cody’s breath-taking vocal range.
Their gritty cover of Ariana Grande’s ‘Problem’ appears to divide the crowd, however, in anticipation of more content from 2012’s ‘Cinematics’ packed into their all too brief set. Before long, Cody’s impressive Ash Costello impression soon redresses the disappointment, introducing popular menacing hit ‘Partners In Crime’.
The roasting temperatures of the Underworld eventually proved too much, as Cody, Dan and drummer Maxx removed their shirts for a rousing true-to-track rendition of ‘Miss Mysterious’. Closing on a stripped-down mash-up of old favourites ‘Swan Song’ and ‘Horrible Kids’ followed by ‘Duality’s biggest hit, ‘Why Worry’, Set It Off leave the entire Underworld humming all the way home.
It seems every genre is safe in the hands of Set It Off, and the Underworld proves to be an ideal venue to vent their admirable range of pop energy and theatrical menace.
4.5/5
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Words by Ali Cooper (@AliZombie_)
