Back to that Fall Out Boy concert last Friday..... wow just wow they are so good. I can't get that show out of my head.
We got there pretty early, much earlier than I expected coming from work and meeting my gf in NYC before the show so we actually watched the entire show.
First band, Games We Play, hit the stage at 6:30. Basically a young large guy who was pretty charismatic and engaging, but felt like he was the onyl one even live of the 3 piece band. Felt like their entire set was backing tracks. It just was not for me at all. Even if they had a full band, I don't think the songs were for me. They only did 4 songs and a lot of talking for a 20 minute set.
Next up were Hot Mulligan. My 3rd time seeing them, but first time really seeing them and being more aware of what they are. I felt pretty bummed by their set. I thought for playing MSG, they'd make a bigger deal about it. They did their same opening set without much crowd interaction. HOnestly felt like going through the motions for them which I did not expect. I did not like their set.
My gf and I were literally in the last row at the Garden and we wanted to grab some food between sets and I know the better food is down below so we went down to the lower bowl to grab food and I almost walked right into the singer of Games We Play. Shook his hand and was given a Fueled by Ramen sticket
He seemed nice, and I felt bad for talking to him in a positive way when I really didn't like their set, but there was no way I was going to say that to his face. Also, while running into the opener is fairly common in the smaller shows, but not really something I've experienced in an arena before.
Jimmy Eat World was next and we were still eating when they started. I was in no rush to get back to my seat. This was my 3rd time seeing them and I never really cared for them besides the one hit song. When we got back to our seats about half way through their set, I felt bored. At least the little kid next to us was LOVING it and while his screaching voice singing was a bit annoying, I honestly enjoyed watching his happiness to the music. I do think the ending of their set was better as the arena finally stood up for The Middle to end their set.
I will say, at this point, I felt pretty dissapointed with the show. I didn't like any of the 3 opening sets. My gf didn't either and she let me know that this show sucked so far
Well that all changed quickly once Fall Out Boy took the stage. First few songs were just loaded with pyros and fireworks, huge bangs, and energetic songs with the arena erupting singing along. From the last row of the veneu, you could hear the crowd singing along so loud for some of these songs. It was AWESOME. They mentioned they chose these songs specifically for a sold out Madison Square Garden. At that point I knew we were going to get some cool songs and something different. They have been doing this "Magic 8 ball" thing for the tour where basically they play whatever song the magic 8 ball says each night making each night special with at least one rare and different song each night. The 8 ball didn't come out yet, but it might as well have.
The lighting rig above the band came down real low for the next few songs. Basically down to right above the drummer's head and the band all performed under it. Kind of made for a crappy view for me in the back, but I think the idea was the make the people in the front feel more intimate with the band as they went through a string of older and rarer songs. We got a couple songs right off the bat that haven't been played this tour. At least the top of the lighting rig had some pyro to keep us without a good view entertained.
When that part of the set finished, out came a huge dog head from behind the stage, swaying back and forth. This Ain't a scene, its a goddamn Arms Race had the entire venue fist bumping. Balloons came out for the following song, before the fog came out to set the stage for a softer song that has some really awesme and powerful vocals, straying quite differently from the pop punk songs that had mostly been played up till this point. That song (Heaven, Iowa) was a highlight for me.
A few songs later, during Fake Out, they asked everyone to shine their phone's light... with a twist. Earlier in the night they were handing out little pink slips of paper. You were supposed to put the paper over your light for this song (the paper even said to do it for this song).
And people followed the instructions as the venue filled up with pink lights in the crowd. Next up was a really interesting part of the night and a part where the band also often changes things up. Out came a grand piano and the singer solo. He did a few parts of a few different songs including some covers, sort of in a medley although the songs weren't connected, he would just play a part of each of them. During this part of the show they
brought out two ladies, Daisy Grenade, to sing a song together. I wasn't familair with this song, but my gf was, and it was a completely different piano version of the song with the two girls singing the leads with the main singer adding layers. It was quite incredible. The song didn't really win me over, but the performance and the one time uniqueness is exactly what I love in concerts.
They also did the title track from the newest album while the piano was out since that song has a piano as lead, not guitar, and it was another of the top moments for me in the concert. This and Heaven, Iowa, really just blew me a way as great softer songs. Some spoken word by the bassist who did some magic and dissapeared while on top of the piano. This was all part of the set up to have him appear in the crowd shortly after to perform Dance Dance. Kind of Kiss like in terms of the one player being solo on a solo stage in the back of the arena. After the one song, he walked along the venue to return to stage, never stopped playing.
We then came to the Magic 8 Ball part, and we got 2 songs! One was an older song that had never been played in full live before. Another song was a cover song by a band called The Academy Is (I'm not familiar with them or the song) which had the singer of the band singing it with Fall out Boy. They had never done that song live.
They then finished the set with the same 4 songs they do every night, 4 hit songs, which honestly at this point all felt excessive. I honeslty felt like they had up to that point won me over 10 times with that set, at 25 songs played, doing the final 4 just felt like even more than icing on the cake. Their whole set was around an hour and 50 minutes, 29 songs (roughly). The best set I've seen this year so far from set list, performance, stage show, and crowd.
ALso just to add, Fall Out Boy felt VERY live to me. They do use some backing tracks for some songs, but it felt like the backing tracks were mixed low. It very much felt like a live rock concert.
Fall Out Boy Jimmy Eat World Hot Mulligan LIVE @ SOLD OUT Madison Square Garden New York 3/22/2024
Topic: Concerts for 2024 (Read 8214 times)
