Caption: You Me At Six has returned to Denver after five years on their most recent tour. photo by Skye Cline
On the night of March 4th, English rock band You Me At Six appeared in Denver for their recent Back Again Tour to perform songs old and new.
My father, my friend, and I stood outside of the Marquis Theater in below freezing weather, waiting for the doors to open. The Marquis Theater, a concert hall and pizza parlor, is a hidden gem of the ballpark district in Downtown Denver. Seeing You Me At Six in Denver was something I never thought would happen, especially at such a small venue. The band is not very popular in the U.S., but is extremely popular overseas in the United Kingdom.
You Me At Six is an English rock band from Weybridge, England. Forming in 2004, the band reached their first major success in 2008 with the release of their first full-length album, Take Off Your Colours, through Slam Dunk Records. Coincidentally, the band released their sixth album on October 5th, 2018, titling the album VI. You Me At Six consists of five members, Josh Franceschi (frontman/lead vocalist), Chris Miller (lead guitarist), Max Helyer (rhythm guitarist), Matt Barnes (bass guitarist), and Dan Flint (drummer). Although they describe themselves as a rock group, fans and other bands alike describe the band as alternative rock or pop-punk. The band’s lyrical style ranges from motivating to sappy love songs that can fit any mood for people of all ages.
This tour was centered around the band’s most recent album, VI. After the release of the album, a world tour soon followed, offering tours dates all over the United Kingdom and the United States.
The lineup for the tour was fairly small, with only two supporting bands. Machineheart, an indie group based in Los Angeles,opened the tour. The lead singer of Machineheart, Stevie Scott, used the stage as her very own creative space, immersing fans into the act holding their hands and creating conversation in between songs. Next to hit the stage was Dreamers, a pop trio based out of Manhattan, New York. Dreamers’ lead singer, Nick Wold, jumped onto the stage ready to get the crowd full of energy for the night to come. After the first two bands completed their sets, the lights of the venue went completely black.
It was time. The moment I had been waiting for had finally arrived. Needless to say, I broke down in tears of joy and alleviation. After years of listening religiously and patiently waiting for this band to come to the United States, it finally happened. The red showlights started to fade as their song “Fast Forward” began with its first few chords ushering Franceschi onto the stage, ready to belt out the lyrics. The song was full of throbbing basslines, striking choruses, and roaring guitars perfect for their opening song. Throughout the night, they played slower songs, like their song “No One Does It Better” to give the crowd a break from the constant high energy the band had brought with them. The highlight of my night was when the lead singer Josh Franceschi held my hand while singing one of my favorite songs, “Fresh Start Fever,” through the duration of the chorus. “A big highlight was when the lead singer stage dove over my head,” said junior Spartan Filiz Baltaci-Lopez, who also attended the concert.
“Going out, the band was very humble and I left the concert very tired, but really enjoyed their music and energy,” stated Lopez. From their on-stage musical performance to their commentary during breaks between songs, each member had his own distinctive personality, making the show enjoyable for the whole crowd.
As the show came to a close, the lights dimmed, the band walked off the stage, and everyone began to chatter. The crowd soon started to chant a mix of “encore,” “one more song” and “six,” which seemed to work because the lights began to turn on again with a purple hue and the crowd began cheering again. The band ended the night with the song that started it all for them, “Underdog.” Baltaci-Lopez recalled, “There was never a low point in the concert.”
The show itself was certainly a highlight of my life. You Me At Six has been around for awhile now and truly need the recognition they deserve. Through the duration of the show, it is apparent that this band really loves what they do and appreciates their smaller fan base here in the U.S.. All of their current albums and singles should be heard by everyone because there is something for everyone. Although their rock and sometimes pop style is not for everyone, it is quite unique and remains exciting even after ten years as a band.
