1000 Tiny Birds

Panic! At The Disco

The O2, 2023-03-06

I decide at 11.30am on the day of that I will go to see Panic! At The Disco in about six hours time. I fully admit I have probably been suckered in, LCD Soundsystem style, by the promise/threat that these are the final P!atD shows - no doubt Brendon Urie will be back in three years for some anniversary tour, but I am unwilling to take that risk. I make it to the O2 with 15 minutes to spare. I am immediately concerned that the girl sat in front of me is going to be a nightmare. Proven right (she flails like a Muppet having a seizure), within two songs I move to a free seat a row back. The format of the evening is fascinating - six older songs, then the entire latest album performed in full, followed by seven older songs. The new album is, I mean, fine. It is what it is. The setlist is constant, so I knew what I was getting. It was worth it for Nine In The Afternoon alone, but the other non-Viva Las Vengeance (and, really, non-Pray For The Wicked) songs are much appreciated. Teenage Emo Phase Sam can die happy having crossed this off the bucket list.