'Ocean Avenue' rockers Yellowcard celebrated two decades of their seminal breakthrough album of the same title, with a line-up sending elder emos into a frenzy last night in Brisbane.
After a week of uncertainty surrounding Ryan Key's health – and by extension, Yellowcard's ability to perform – Brisbane fans breathed a collective sigh of relief on Sunday morning (13 April), with the release of a video from Ryan not only thanking fans for their kindness and compassion regarding the last two shows – which were unfortunately cancelled-postponed – but confirming his recovery had been a success, and the Brisbane show would go ahead. Phew – that was close.While Key's declined health has led to both Sydney and Newcastle shows being adapted wherein supports on this stacked tour – Motion City Soundtrack and Plain White T's – taking to the stage without support of the headlining act.
While I'm sure a disappointment to some fans who may have missed their opportunity to catch the iconic Floridian pop-punkers, in a sign of good faith and acknowledgement of the stature that these supports have in their own right, the two impacted shows went ahead at a reduced ticket cost, with a Sydney make-up show tacked onto the end of the tour (on Wednesday) for those who simply cannot miss this iconic act.
In an evening bound to enforce a sense of old age – likely invoking sore shoulders and knees as it unfolds – across a presumably large proportion of attendees, Illinois pop-rockers Plain White T's kick off the evening's festivities; storming the stage with vigour and enthusiasm expected from rockstars of this calibre.
The quartet – best-known for their multi-platinum achieving, twice Grammy-nominated and #1 hit, 'Hey There Delilah' – formed while this reviewer was contemplating what pencils to pack in their primary school bag and whether or not he'd be allowed to sleep over at his friend's house for their birthday that weekend (please, mum!).
While forming some 30-years ago, these US rockers truly hit their stride in the early '00s with the release of first studio album 'All That We Needed', housing the aforementioned love song and ode to their dearest, Delilah.
While Plain White T's may have slowed their roll slightly since their arguable post-2004 plateau, having carved such a prolific and adoring fanbase with their gorgeous and cutesy tunes, the act has remained active in both performance and slow-drip of new music to their fans. Most recently, after releasing six studio albums across their impressive career, in late 2023 they released a seventh, self-titled album.
Respectfully put, legacy (or is it classic? I'm unsure exactly how I feel about either of these terms) acts like this have big shoes to fill with the curation of their set list. Accumulating fans over decades across half a dozen records leaves a lot of emotional attachment that could not be easy to cater to.
However, knowing you cannot please everyone all the time, Plain White T's curated an emotional and dynamic set covering a huge spread of their career in an incredibly short set list.
With no need for introduction, taking to the stage as second act of the evening were Minnesota rockers (and I use this term lighter than usual as the informed would be aware of), Motion City Soundtrack.
I cannot speak for everyone, however I am quietly confident this act has played a part in the majority of 30-something-year-olds who have shed a tear or two through their high-school years.
With one more year on the books compared to this evening's opening act, Motion City Soundtrack have seen very similar accolades as well. We know that trends – music or otherwise – are cyclical, ebbing and flowing as the sand in the hourglass ever-pours, and the quartet have remained true to their mission and self-definition, never reinventing the wheel they have participated in the smoothing of.
While Motion City Soundtrack saw a significant disbanding entailing four years, the act – reforming in 2019 - returned to the circuit, releasing several new records since, and continuing to showcase their melancholic and emotional prowess to their adoring fans who are often cult-like in their respect and worship for an act that has defined teenage heartache and growing pains.
With a near-double set list of the evening's predecessors, Motion City Soundtrack wasted no time throughout the evening ensuring that fans had their money's worth. Commencing with 'Broken Heart' and 'Make Out Kids' they capitalised with fan-faves like 'L.G. FUAD' and 'My Favourite Accident', before closing out with 'Everything Is Alright' and 'The Future Freaks Me Out'; fans were collectively impressed and engaged as the crooners belt out these tracks in all of their glory.
Experiencing acts like Motion City Soundtrack evoke emotion further than that of which they deliver within their performance. For those of us who have seen acts come and go, for better or for worse, there is a sense of mortality and respect for time elapsing as the reality this could potentially be the last opportunity to experience this particular artist.
They've been on the scene for some 30 years, and all good things must come to an end. While there has been no indication the band is heading to the end of an illustrious career, one does treasure opportunities such as this.
The crowd erupts as Yellowcard burst onto the stage of a packed Fortitude Music Hall and commence their explosive set with 'Way Away'.
With a near-20 song set list (I now appreciate why such importance was placed on the vocal health of Key – he has previously had surgery on his vocal cords, by way of context of the severity of the enforced rest), we are promptly met with a personal favourite of mine, 'Lights And Sounds' within the opening minutes.
Yellowcard has forever been revered for their musicality and deviation from the standardised pop-punk formula; most notably with the long-time inclusion of a live violinist in Sean Mackin.
With an additional element of depth like a string instrument, this creates a point of difference unavoidable and undeniable within its uniqueness. While not uncommon for bands of this calibre (and of significantly lesser popularity and success) to leverage backing tracks, synths and orchestral elements, a full-time violinist for a pop-punk outfit still stand alones in differentiating this act from its peers.
Yellowcard ooze proficiency and performance prowess, rolling through their songs quickly while still allowing opportunity to speak to and engage with their rowdy fans. Key is noticeably thankful for the support of fans both now, and across their long career; and a sense of authenticity lingers atop these talented individuals.
'Rough Landing, Holly', 'Empty Apartment' and 'Better Days' all make an appearance throughout the stacked set list. However, unsurprising to any and all in attendance, the room absolutely explodes as the act close out their set with the one, the only, 'Ocean Avenue'.
Call it cliche or lacking depth, but it's difficult to not acknowledge the cultural significance this song has had on a generation. For me, Yellowcard, Sugarcult (RIP), and 'The OC' all scream of an era of adolescence and idealism, of what life could and would be like one day. Carefree, sunset-chasing, friendship and love nurturing, and a little bit questionable in decisions being made.
Yes, Yellowcard as an act are fantastic and truly in the top-tier calibre of their genre, but Yellowcard as a bookmark in time is even more powerful in the opinion of this reviewer.
They remind (me, at least) of this beautiful period of time where guitar-music was king, and being (derogatively) called emo was part of the course. It truly is beautiful the stamp these sorts of acts have placed on an entire generation, and for that I'm truly grateful to have been there to experience real-time, and back to reflect on after the fact.
Yellowcard have promised they'll be back before too long to continue the next cycle of their life, in tow of their forthcoming new record. In the meantime, make sure you make some time to sit and talk with your friends and lovers, walk bare foot on the beach, and sleep all day after staying up all night – life can be simple and peaceful when we take opportunity to embrace its simplicity.
