Its hostile security, its absence of decent sightlines and its all-pervading aroma of incompetently fried chips means Hammersmith Palais won't be missed when the developers move in.

Not that Fall Out Boy should care, for the Chicago quartet are on their way to bigger things.

Last night, before a hormonally raging, mostly teenage audience, split evenly between girls who screamed at bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz and boys who sang along with Patrick Stump's every last word, Fall Out Boy were a juddering howl of adolescent angst.

The teddy bear-shaped Stump was a most unsettling frontman, who croaked uncomfortably through Wentz's lyrics and ignored the audience.

In contrast, when the loquacious Wentz wasn't spouting nonsense about the internet ("it's stupid!"), he was showing just how keenly he understands his audience by eulogising Harry Potter.

After cheerily extolling the virtues of fellatio, Wentz led the crowd in myriad foul-mouthed chants, showing that not only is swearing big and clever, but it can be quite funny, too.

The songs hurtled by, but Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner and Dance Dance suggested they could take their audience with them as both parties mature. It might be worth hoping they do.