[Review] ACX 2010 Jimmy Eat World Bring The Christmas Cheer

Photos by Alex Rauch

Christmas time is a time to spend with family. Arizona alternative-rock band, Jimmy Eat World, has been around for 17 years–almost as long as the 21st Annual Almost Acoustic Christmas–and we consider them our extended rock relatives.

Just like one of our brothers, Jimmy Eat World has grown with us from their brooding 90s emocore to their alternative-tinged power pop. This feeling of bonding with musical brethren is something that is intrinsic in the band’s personality; singer/guitarist Jim Adkins and drummer Zach Lind have been friends with each other since preschool.

Each note Jimmy Eat World creates punctuates the air with a plaintive urgency, playing into the collective psyche’s of the appreciatively pulsating audiences. Lead singer Jim Adkins, bass guitarist, Rick Burch, drummer Zach Lind, and guitarist Tom Linton create a seamless musical connection with each other and our community, their family–the audience.

The band played songs like “My Best Theory,” “Big Casino,” and “Little Things” flawlessly, the vulnerable, tenor treble of Adkins voice contrasting perfectly with the grinding, melodic rage of the guitars. Jimmy Eat World still maintains a bit of their “emo” past, if only that they evoke a profound emotional reaction in their audience with each member feeling as if the band is singing directly to them, their past and present experience, and their quietly hidden passions.

[Photo Gallery] ACX 2010 Jimmy…

When Jimmy Eat World treated the audience to a Christmas cover, “Last Christmas,” Adkins’ plaintive voice worked perfectly with the yearning nature of the Christmas song and put the whole entire audience in the Christmas spirit, the packed put pulsating into each other, pushing hard into the barricade.

Spending Christmas closer to other Angelenos than they probably ever have. What can we say? We’re family.