YOU ME AT SIX Hit New York City’s Gramercy Theatre and Prove Why They’re Among the Best [Photos & Show Review]

I’m not going to lie… I don’t remember much from the last time I saw You Me At Six prior to this tour. Granted, that was almost seven years ago on a ridiculously hot summer day, and they were probably at least the fifteenth band I was shooting that day… but the point still stands.

However, that’s not to say they’re not memorable. On the contrary, I still fondly look back on the first time I saw You Me At Six, coincidentally it was the same day that I first heard of them. It was the AP Fall Ball 2009, and YMAS were the first band on the bill. Back then, you could count the number of concerts I’d been to on one hand, but I learned early on that if you skip the opening bands, you might miss out on something special.

Almost a decade later, things in our relationship have come full circle, but this time around, I watched the British rockers headline a completely sold out, jam-packed Gramercy Theater in New York City. If it’s possible to truly feel proud of the “glow up” of a group of five guys I absolutely don’t know, well, consider me proud.

Anyone feel like bowling? Well, You Me At Six do in this music video for “Back Again” from IV.

The best thing about music is that it brings people together, and this show, in support of their latest studio album, VI, was tangible proof of that. While the setlist heavily featured songs off VI, including the catchy “Back Again,” “Fast Forward,” “3 AM” and “I O U,” the band still made sure to give fans a good mix of new and old. Weaving throughout their six-album discography, You Me At Six included tracks off of 2017’s Night People (”Take on the World,” “Give”), 2014’s Cavalier Youth (“Fresh Start Fever,” “Cold Night”), and 2011’s Sinners Never Sleep (“Reckless,” “Bite My Tongue”) with all five hundred people in the room singing along to each word.

The way the band interacted with the crowd was on par with the best. Providing witty banter, hand holding, and a cameo appearance amongst the crowd from vocalist Josh Franceschi during “Underdog,” the group showed that you don’t need to be playing 10k-cap rooms to connect with your audience and be just all around lovely.

Highlights of the night consisted of Franceschi encouraging the crowd to dance “even worse than” the band did, as well as him taking a seat on the side of the stage to give guitarist Chris Miller and bassist Matthew Barnes a moment to shine with a shared solo.

Let’s take you way back for this one. Check out the classic YMAS track “Bite My Tongue” off of Sinners Never Sleep.

In what was a standout moment amongst many, Franceschi later invited the youngest fan that night onstage with them, giving him a memorable experience he’ll never forget (…and probably simultaneously ensuring a lifelong habit of wasting money on concert tickets in his future).

If there’s one thing I learned from this show, it’s that You Me At Six are dedicated to growing not only as musicians but as performers too. I look forward to seeing what they get up to on an even bigger stage next time.

Remaining You Me At Six Tour Dates:

03/13 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
03/14 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
03/16 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade