By Erin Lee
Photo by Erin Lee
Saturday night in Jacksonville at VyStar Memorial Arena was packed with fantastic performances from The Maine, Jimmy Eat World, and Fall Out Boy.
I arrived just before The Maine took the stage, dressed head to toe in white suits.
Singer John O'Callaghan was a force to be reckoned with: huge stage presence supported by a band of talented players. He encouraged the audience to "sing along, even if (you) don't know the words."
Later in the set, he made his way to the floor, playfully asking who would be the best dancer of the evening. Eventually, he invited an audience member named Alex onstage to sing "Girls Do What They Want."
Seeing The Maine live really solidified for me what a wonderfully underrated band they are. Jimmy Eat World performed next, stretching through their discography to play songs from Clarity to Surviving and everything in between. As someone who considers themselves a mega fan, the diverse set was welcome and appreciated.
People around me were enjoying the set, but I was on my feet throughout their performance, singing and dancing to every song. Three songs in, singer Jim Adkins asked the crowd if they were "ready for this?" before launching into "Sweetness."
Sir, I was born ready.
Next, Guitarist Tom Linton's backing vocal chops were showcased beautifully on the recent "Something Loud." Sets tend to be heavy on the band's early albums, but the audience was treated to a solid, driving version of "My Best Theory" from 2010's Invented, among others.
Whether they're a supporting act or the headliner, Jimmy Eat World always delivers a performance that leaves you wanting to come back again and again. Just after 9, Fall Out Boy began their portion of the show. Front-loading the set with hits like "Sugar We're Going Down" and "Uma Thurman" got the crowd warmed up for what was to follow.
Having seen the first leg of this tour, I knew to expect a celebration of 20 years of "Take This to Your Grave."
Indicated by a setpiece with a clock whose hands turn back, we were treated to three tracks. The band kept things interesting for longtime fans by including new setlist additions, such as "Dead on Arrival."
Reaching the halfway point of the show, vocalist Patrick Stump shared some banter with bassist Pete Wentz before taking a seat at the piano for a much-anticipated medley of songs. Fans have been gathering on X, speculating each night on which songs would be showcased during both the medley and the "Magic 8 Ball" rotating spot.
We were thrilled to hear "Bad Side of 25" from Stump's solo album "Soul Punk" and "20 Dollar Nosebleed." The medley finished with a cover of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now," in which the rest of the band rejoined him onstage.
Speaking of covers, the band did a fantastically high-spirited version of Huey Lewis and The News' "The Power of Love."
Now, about that Magic 8 Ball. Each night of the tour, a different song is chosen to play.
Often, the songs haven't been played live in years, as was the case for us: "I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I Get You Off" saw the light of day for the first time in a decade. It was well received, to say the least!
The set design had fun visual appeal: a large snail flanked one side of the stage, and an oversized swinging doberman head with a movable mouth returned from the last leg of the tour; along with a tree with a face large enough for Pete Wentz to stand and play in.
The band rounded out the set with a few more hits before ending with "Saturday," their traditional closer.
Every time I see Fall Out Boy they top themselves. It truly is a wonderful time to be a fan, as the band's energy onstage indicates they're loving every minute as much as we are.
All images by Erin Lee
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