Pop-punk violin pioneers, Yellowcard have returned to Australia for the first time since 2017.
On Friday (4 April) it was the second show of the Australian tour in Adelaide at Hindley Street Music Hall.The near sold-out crowd on hand to celebrate 20 years of the iconic, 2000s defining album 'Ocean Avenue'. It's a noughties pop-punk rock dream line-up with Motion City Soundtrack and the Plain White T's supporting.
Plain White T's have only been to Australia once and that was in 2008 for Soundwave Festival. The mostly full venue at 7pm proves their return is long overdue.
They kick off with songs like 'Our Time Now' and 'Feeling (More Like) Myself' that have a heavier and more pop-punk beat behind them. Perhaps this is an attempt to fit in with the rest of the bands on tonight's bill.
However, where the band excels is in their pop-rock, folk and acoustic roots. Songs like 'The Giving Tree' grab everyone's attention and usher the crowd into silence. A highlight of the set is lead guitarist Tim Lopez's vocals on this song, giving a country-folk singer-songwriter vibe.
It's an odd situation where the opening band has the biggest song of the night, but this is undeniable for the Plain White T's whose decade-defining anthem, 'Hey There Delilah' ends the night.
As the set gets closer to this final song, there's a suspenseful anticipation in the room. Phones come out, every gap in the mosh pit fills; even the upper level dressing room balcony door opens as crew members come out to witness this song as the signature guitar intro rings out. Everyone in the audience knows the words and it's an otherworldly moment seeing this song live.
The room is now full for Motion City Soundtrack. The band sounds as tight as ever, despite vocalist Justin Pierre forgetting his inhaler, and co-founder and lead guitarist Joshua Cane being back home due to a family emergency.
Seeing them live is a reminder of how influential Pierre's trademark vocals are on the scene. He is one of the signature pop-punk vocalists. The energy onstage is contagious and it's a steady build as the crowd gets more engaged after every song.
Notable highlights throughout the set include 'This Is For Real' and 'L.G. FUAD'. They wrap up with a back to back of 'Everything Is Alright' and 'The Future Freaks Me Out'.
Lead guitarist of Yellowcard, Ryan Mendez mentioned – in our earlier interview with him – that "we're not really calling it like an album play-through, but we are playing almost the entire album over the course of the night". This was quickly confirmed as they started the night with a mix of high-energy, encore-worthy tracks: 'Way Away', 'Breathing', 'Lights And Sounds' and 'Believe'.
Yellowcard at Melbourne concert 5 April, 2025 - image © Sacha Lauder
They've been doing the 20 years of 'Ocean Avenue' tour for a few years now, with vocalist Ryan Key laughing "even though it's the 22nd birthday in Australia now".
Between songs Ryan takes moments to reminisce with the crowd, reflecting on how 'Ocean Avenue' shot them into the stratosphere and changed their lives. They had no idea it would still have such an impact 20 years later.
Ryan also provided back stories to key songs like 'Keeper', which at the time was set to be their next big single. The band felt like it never got its time in the sun after changes within their record label.
Sean Mackin, violinist of Yellowcard, is the most energetic presence onstage driving everyone into a frenzy. There must be some kind of primordial instinct in humans for when someone brings out the violin.
Some kind of ancestral impulse is awoken that makes us do a little folk jig. It's the distinctive element of Yellowcard, which has made them pop-punk royalty and makes you wonder if they would have found the same level of success without it.
Yellowcard at Melbourne concert 5 April, 2025 - image © Sacha Lauder
They power through other gems from 'Ocean Avenue' as well as crowd favourites from other albums like 'Awakening' and 'Always Summer'. Before the next song, Ryan speaks about their upcoming secretive new album, confirming they've finished recording a whole record with Travis Barker.
They give us a taste of the album with the unreleased single 'Better Days', which is a heavier track with synth elements and sounds like a more modern produced song from their album 'Paper Walls'. It's an exciting preview of what Ryan describes as "the best record we've ever made," adding "you're not f...ing ready."
Yellowcard don't waste any time as they finish with their self-described "noncore" not leaving the stage once. They dive into 'Only One' and of course bookend with the title track of the evening, 'Ocean Avenue' getting the biggest sing-along of the evening.
Ryan hints the band will return to Australia sooner rather than later, presumably on the back of this new album.
Moving away from a traditional chronological album play-through was a refreshing choice. This set list brings the best of 'Ocean Avenue' nostalgia while still covering the greatest hits. A 2000s pop-punk dream set.
