This review can be summed up in one short and sweet sentence: No one can touch AFI when it comes to music and love performance.

The END.

At any AFI show expect the separation of band members and fans to be blurred. Numerous stage dives and letting the crowds overpowering voice sing along to each song were in affect at AFI’s final show of their US fall headlining tour with support from Touche Amore and The Coming earlier in the night. Their live performance is a spectacle that every other band in the world could learn a thing or two from. A live performance of a band can leave you feeling completely mind blow, disappointed or simple satisfied. With a performance by AFI, mind blow was the only feeling everyone felt when they leaft the show.

AFI concerts are always more of a gathering of people with a common thread then individuals  gathering to watch their favorite band play. Everyone at the Showbox in Seattle were talking about their one common love, their love for AFI, with strangers next to them. With fans of all different types getting to know each other in the crowd the time passed quickly and suddenly without warning the lights went out and screams erupted. Each member of AFI walked on stage holding their instruments at their side. Guitarist Jade Puget lifted his guitar strap over his head and walks toward the edge of the stage. With one leg up on his monitor riser Puget finger picked the opening of The Leaving Song Pt. II, then into an explosive start to the show. Leading singer Davey Havok ran right to the edge of the stage singer right in the face of the fans, inches away from the crowd. Havoks stage theatrics ranged from high kicks to jumping off the drum riser and never gets old. Its easy to see that he was born to be the front man for AFI. While lead singer Davey Havok controls the mic in a way few other front man can, Jade Puget makes playing the guitar look like child’s play. Remember AFI only have one guitarist, so all the unique and gigantic sound are coming from one guitar. Puget’s unique way of combining creative techniques to playing the guitar and his more then lively stage presence is something worth looked up to.

The set list for the show could not have been better designed. The range went from songs off their most current album like 17 Crimes, I Hope You Suffer, File 13, to their older albums with the song Wester, Ever and a Day, and Days of The Phoenix, and plenty from their two platinum selling albums Miss Murder, Girls Not Grey, Love Like Winter, and Kill Caustic. The final song of the night came as AFI began the song God Called in Sick Today, an old song that seems to not feel like an old song. During the final stage of the song Havok walked into the crowd as the fans held him up and sang the second half of the song. Walking on the fans like water it was an awesome sight to experience.

“Through our bleeding we are one.” chanted every AFI fan that filled the Showbox at the Market on Friday night. “Through our bleeding we are one” was chanted until AFI return back on stage for a three song encore. Preforming three hits song, from old and new AFI albums was perfect way to recap the night for all the long time fans. While I wish they had played one more song off each of their past albums during the encore it was still remarkable ending. Watching Puget shred the guitar solo on Dancing Through Sunday was something for the guitar gods. The final song of the encore was a single off the their ‘Sing the Sorrow’ album Silver and Cold.  A perfect song to end the night which saw Havok turn much of the singing duties over to the crowd who finished off the night. A memorable performance by some of the most talented artists today.

Set List:

The Leaving Song Pt. II
Girls Not Grey
I Hope You Suffer
Wester
Love Like Winter
Ever and a Day
17 Crimes
File 13
Leaving Song
Heart Stops
Kill Caustic
Beautiful Thieves
Miss Murder
Days of The Phoenix
God Called In Sick Today

Encore 

6 to 8
Dancing Through Sunday
Silver and Cold

Touche Amore

The Coming