Hey, they did name their album When The World Comes Down. So it really shouldn't have been a huge surprise when the nearly 400 anxious fans who packed the Chain Reaction last Wednesday to see The All-American Rejects had to endure near apocalyptic weather before getting inside.

Yes, it's true: Unlike most days in Southern California, it was raining and in the low 40s before the Oklahoma-bred group took the stage at The Chain Reaction. But the staff members at the beloved club were nice enough to let the kids wait it out inside, giving them a dry place to hang until just before doors. The anxious fans responded by cheering as loudly as possible for the Rejects when they hit the stage with "Swing Swing," just after 9:00 PM.

For the next hour, the Rejects reached deep into their catalog, playing everything from "Paper Hearts” to "Mona Lisa," a tender new ballad off of When The World Comes Down (which officially hit stores some 24 hours earlier). The new album's first single "Gives You Hell" also prompted a huge sing-along from the crowd, but nothing could top the crowd interaction that occurred a few moments later, when the Rejects broke into "It Ends Tonight."

As frontman Tyson Ritter set down his bass and lit up a large car mechanic light, he began telling the crowd the story behind the song. "A lot of people think this next song is about a girl,” he said. "But it's not..." Ritter then explained how "It Ends Tonight" was about the problems male freinds can have with each other over the course of their freindship. He then dedicated "It Ends Tonight" to "anyone you have ever wanted to smother with a pillow."

Well, it seemed like a lot of people in the crowd have wanted to smother some one close to them with a pillow before. Because just about everyone inside the Chain Reaction joined Ritter when he got to the song's chorus. A few minutes later, the band exited the stage and returned with "The Last Song," which appropriately closed out the night.

This was the Rejects first real show in Southern California in support of their new album, and we have to thank them (as well as the Collective LA) for sharing it with us. We should also thank the staff at The Chain Reaction and, of course, all of those ridiculously dedicated fans who braved the elements in order to make it to the show. This was our last Secret Show of 2008 and it was definitely one to remember.

We'll see you all in the new year!