In a time filled with pop-punk nostalgia, one of the biggest names to cash in is Yellowcard. After their reunion set at Riot Fest, Yellowcard celebrated the 20th anniversary of Ocean Avenue by hitting the road. Playing the biggest shows of their career, Chicago’s stop could very well be their biggest. Huntington Bank Pavillion’s blissful, nostalgic vibes were perfect for a night of celebrating. Not only Ocean Avenue but all of pop-punk and emo.
At this particular stop, Yellowcard was joined by This Wild Life, Story of the Year, and Mayday Parade.
Starting things off was This Wild Life, the self-proclaimed “Hot Topic Mumford & Sons.” The acoustic duo’s mellow guitar songs included a cover of blink-182’s “I Miss You.” It was a chill way to start, but the bright teal outfits and singer Kevin Jordan’s banter (along with his stylish Crocs) made for a fun time. The following band would be a complete 180.
Taking the emo to the next level was Story of the Year, whose hard-hitting music and fast-paced stage antics provided a thrilling experience. They were running around on stage, fondling each other’s nuts, and at one point saw singer Dan Marsala carry bassist Adam Russell on his shoulders. Their youthful energy on stage only aided their already awesome performance. I found their performance to be the most surprising and entertaining of the openers. They looked as if their 20-year career had not even begun to slow them down.
Before Yellowcard, the final openers were Mayday Parade. The group I think the majority of us were super anxious to see.
The audience participation and reaction to Mayday Parade were easily at an all-time high compared to the openers. Singer Derek Sanders took the stage solo, to begin with the intro to “Oh Well, Oh Well.” Once the rest of the band joined, an emo explosion blasted through the entire venue. What ensued was a wonderful chorus of sing-a-longs accompanied by epic shredding from lead guitarist Alex Garcia.
Between sets, Alex Mac of Emo Night Brooklyn played classic emo hits and danced around on stage to hype up the crowd. For the first part of the night, it was really cool hearing hits from Paramore and Fall Out Boy while waiting for the next act, but as the night progressed it got old pretty quick. It wasn’t so much the music that got old, but Mac himself. That’s not to say that when he ended his time at the show with “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” by My Chemical Romance the place didn’t go crazy. Emo Night Brooklyn seems much more appropriate for the party at the small venues it’s known for.
Nonetheless, his final song meant it was time for Chicago to once again witness Yellowcard in their full glory.
Opening with “Way Away,” Yellowcard took the stage by storm. There’s always been a powerful edge to their music that translates just as well live. The moment the band came with the opening song, their energy ignited a fire amongst their fans who sang along to every word. It’s safe to say Yellowcard hasn’t lost any of their edge after six years. Songs like “Breathing,” “Lights and Sounds,” and “Fighting” were like proving ground anthems. Violinist Sean Mackin stole the show during “Empty Apartment.”. The violin on that song absolutely killed live.
Frontman Ryan Key was absolutely grateful to be back on tour, talking about how he sincerely believed that Yellowcard was done as a band back in 2017. Then he talked about their latest EP, Childhood Eyes that would be released just days later. A welcome surprise of the night was Yellowcard inviting Derek Sanders back on stage to sing “Hang You Up.”
While the audience seemed to be heavily invested in the show at the start, there were moments when the participation lulled.
Attempts at moshing were for the most part lackluster. This certainly doesn’t take away from the monumental performance the band gave or what it means to be playing at such a big venue. However, the energy kicked up to eleven for their last two songs, “Only One” and “Ocean Avenue.” Crowd surfing and sweating bullets while singing along, “Ocean Avenue” closing out the night encapsulates what Yellowcard’s reunion means.
It was astonishing to see a band like Yellowcard celebrate their career. I imagine it’s much like recapturing a moment in time when their lives were changed by Ocean Avenue. Meanwhile, fans were able to relive the rowdier memories while appreciating where they are headed. If Yellowcard’s performance at Huntington Bank Pavillion is any indicator, it looks like Yellowcard has an exciting future ahead of them.
All photos by Oscar De Leon
