Capitol, Perth
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Pop-punk juggernauts Yellowcard kicked off the Australian leg tour of their final world tour on Wednesday night to a sold out crowd at Perth’s Capitol. After announcing their forthcoming break-up in June of last year, it was a night many Yellowcard fans in Perth had been looking forward too, but also dreading as it was their turn to say final goodbyes.
One of the few pop-punk bands to survive their genre’s mainstream decline since the mid 00’s, Yellowcard pushed on, producing a massive ten album discography in just 20 years, most known for their breakthrough album Ocean Avenue in 2003. However it’s the six albums that followed Ocean Avenue, which have pushed pop-punk beyond its golden years (1999-2005) and inspired bands like Neck Deep and State Champs, to keep the genre alive that puts Yellowcard right up there with the likes of Green Day and Blink-182. They’ve won fans from around the world, not only with their music but by the way they’ve been able to relate to them (no Yellowcard show is sold without a meet and greet option). It made it all the more harder saying goodbye.
Just before they hit the stage, a voice recording filled the venue with messages such as, “the band wants to see your faces, not your phones” and “the miracle that’s your eyeball”. Ending the message with “while the band is not telling anyone how to live their life, if you think that low-quality video footage on a mobile device is better than living in the moment at a badass rock show, then in the words of Yellowcard, you are f**king blowing it,” which was absolutely the truth.
Violinist Sean Mackin sent Yellowcard into their opening song Believe. Written as a tribute to those lost and affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it is a track from Ocean Avenue that has remained a fan favourite for more than a decade. Following were Lights and Sounds and Way Away, singles that are often the foundation of Yellowcard setlists and have ripped apart so many Warped Tours. For the hard hitting Five Becomes Four next up, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ryan Key encouraged the crowd into a circle pit like any classic Yellowcard show.
Adding plenty of versatility into their set list, Yellowcard played two songs off their latest and final self-titled record. Delivering Rest in Peace, the album’s lead single that accompanied the news of the band’s forthcoming breakup, the crowd sung this latest track word for word. A credit to a city that had just seen the band live for the first time in 2013, and a true reflection of the fan base that the band has been able to achieve so effortlessly. Following Rest in Peace was the second track off the same album, What Appears with the song’s lyrics fittingly starting with, “slow steady hands waving their last goodbye,” getting fans in the feels once again.
One of my personal favourites, Rough Landing, Holly from their Lights and Sounds album, followed by Awakening, a newer fan-favorite and the only song of the night from Southern Air, got the crowd roaring once again. Light up the Sky, the only single from their Paper Walls album, took the night to another level.
Before the next song, Key gave a short speech about his Aunt Stephanie who passed away a few years ago. Known for being the one in his family who supported his dream of pursuing a career in music the most and driving him across the country to California to do so, Sing For Me delivered an emotional song, relatable to anyone who has lost a loved one.
The next three songs were from the band’s past two albums. Lift a Sail, the title track from their ninth studio album, was followed by a new song from their self-titled album, A Place We Set a Fire. It’s a song written specifically for the fans, reminding them that they had truly made the band’s career and that the band will be forever grateful for their support.
The following song was Cut Me, Mick from Paper Walls, a powerful song that every big Yellowcard fan enjoys. Next were fan favourites Breathing and Empty Apartment from Ocean Avenue, these classic Yellowcard songs bringing out a lot of emotion from both diehards and the newest of fans in the room. Hang You Up and Be the Young were two songs off their comeback record, When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes. While Hang You Up was a single from the record, it was refreshing to hear Be the Young. Finally, the last song on the main set list was Holly Wood Died, another song from Lights and Sounds that had fans on their feet.
The night wasn’t over yet though, the room remaining poised for two song in particular. Only One always brings out loads of nostalgia to anyone who listened to the radio back in the early-mid 2000s, regardless of being a Yellowcard fan or not. Finally, it was time. It was the moment of the show that everyone had been waiting for. It was time for everyone to sing along to Ocean Avenue one final time. “I remember the look in your eyes, when I told you that this was goodbye. You were begging me not tonight, not here, not now”. These lyrics were the genuine thoughts running through everyone’s mind as the song and the show came to end. The band that helped define a genre, said their final thank you and goodbyes and just like that one of the best shows I’ve ever been to was over. Thank you Yellowcard, we can only hope for a(nother) reunion.
BEN DILLON
Pics by Mikaela James Photography
