Does Moose Blood's new album hold up to live shows?

When it comes to pop punk especially, oftentimes an album’s quality can make or break when performed live. How did Moose Blood's new album hold up live?

Upon Moose Blood’s recent release of their third album, I Just Can’t Do This Anymore, fans were eager to see what type of tone to expect. Having just released Blush in 2016, the debut of this album came as a shock to many. Nearly immediately, fans were able to see that the band has managed to deliver the same quality of music as they had done in previous albums.

Quickly, Moose Blood found them touring the album across America. In fact, in addition to the tour dates, they held in-store signings for their album with mini acoustic sets. Personally, I believe music is best enjoyed on vinyl. For those of you who believe the same, you’ll be glad to hear that they released 7 different variants for your pleasure.

And while different pressings of an album is cool, what really matters is how the music sounds and how you feel. Luckily, I had the opportunity to attend the Philadelphia tour date on March 16th at the Philadelphia Theatre of the Living Arts.

When it comes to pop punk especially, oftentimes an album’s quality can make or break when performed live. For example, All Time Low’s Last Young Renegade was for sure exponentially better live. So, as I found myself at the Theatre of the Living Arts, I was eager to see if I Just Can’t Do This Anymore would hold up to my expectations.

Firstly, I should preface this by acknowledging that Eddy’s voice was in, fact, gone. The mere fact that he performed through a sore throat, as bad as it was, really shows to me his dedication to the music.

When it comes to the overall music, I was blown away. A perfectly curated setlist is not something I say lightly. The band that I equate the absolute best setlists to is none other than The Wonder Years, so when I say that this setlist was a new level, I mean it. The way Moose Blood’s music blended together was amazing, especially between new and old music.

I don’t know how to explain the electric feeling in a Moose Blood concert. There’s this moment where nothing else seems to matter. When the band hits an interlude they seem to shake the audience with an electric buzz full of heart and soul. As I always do when I see the band live, I felt this feeling intensely and surely.

While the focus was primarily on old music, the songs off the new album were received by the audience with just as much love. For the album to have been released so soon before the concert may not have given fans much time to truly know the music, but that didn’t stop them from appreciating it with the whole of their being.

Moose Blood didn’t fail to entertain me, but more importantly, they left me feeling whole. To me, that’s the sign of a job well done at a concert.