Saturday night saw pop-punk icons Yellowcard play to an almost sold-out Margaret Court Arena, their biggest headline show in Australia. Joining them were Plain White T’s and Motion City Soundtrack– a lineup for the pop-punk ages. Though it’s technically two-years overdue, this tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of their highly regarded 2003 record Ocean Avenue, an album that shaped and influenced a generation of pop-punk fans.
The venue was filling up nicely from the start, with concert-goers no doubt eager to catch Plain White T’s 2006 hit “Hey There Delilah”, which they unsurprisingly saved for the end of their short but sweet set. They played with great energy, expressing their excitement and gratitude to be joining their friends on this tour. Lead singer Tom Higgenson announced that he’d be hanging out at the merch stand after their set, and encouraged fans to come say hi and get a photo, something you don’t typically see at arena shows. Overall, they were a great choice to set the tone for the evening.
Motion City Soundtrack were up next, and they were all sorts of weird and wonderful. The entire band had a fantastic energy, with lead singer Justin Pierre’s wacky dance moves and keyboardist Jesse Johnson’s outrageous enthusiasm being a key highlight. They were a complete joy to watch, playing a thirteen-track set consisting of their hits including “Everything Is Alright”, “The Future Freaks Me Out” and “L.G FUAD”.
While Pierre’s talking breaks were a little awkward, they were certainly sincere, as he shared that guitarist Joshua Cain couldn’t join them due to his father passing away just days prior. He then went into a heartfelt monologue about life and death, before continuing on with their last few songs. The crowd was loving every minute of it, though I did feel that the set was perhaps one or two songs too long. Nevertheless, a very enjoyable performance.
Right on time, the lights dimmed and the music quietened while a voice came over the speaker introducing Yellowcard. Amid cheers and screams, the band graced the stage and wasted no time kicking things off with “Way Away”, and “Breathing”- the first two tracks off of Ocean Avenue. Straight away, you could tell this show was special. The band was visibly taking in their surroundings, looking at the packed-out arena in awe. Lead vocalist Ryan Key and violinist Sean Mackin stood on elevated platforms, with Mackin constantly hyping up the crowd.
During the set, Key took a long moment to share with the audience the significance of this show. Back in 2015, Yellowcard headlined Margaret Court Arena along with Mayday Parade, but less than half the tickets sold. Key shared how this was a pivotal moment for the band, leaving them feeling embarrassed and ultimately leading to their 2017 break-up. Now, eight years later, they’re back at the same venue with the most palpable energy in the room, and it was so clear just how much this meant to them, which they kept reiterating throughout the night.
The entire band was on fire, but Mackin’s energy was unmatched as he urged the crowd to give their all and continuously commanded the stage. Nearing the end of their set, Key stopped once more to speak candidly to the crowd, this time sharing exciting news about new music. “I know everyone says this, but I truly believe that this is our best record”, Key shared about their upcoming album, produced by Blink 182’s Travis Barker.
He then went on to say that he feels the album is them at their very best, sounding like their old stuff with a fresh, new feel, representing where the band is at currently. They then treated the audience to “Better Days”, a brand new unreleased track which went down exceptionally well. After a couple more songs, it was the moment that everyone had been waiting for. “We’re doing a non-core”, Key joked, explaining that they’re not into encores and wanted to spare the theatrics. “We just want you all to sing Ocean Avenue with us right now” he said, before that incredibly iconic riff started and every single person in the arena was up on their feet.
This show was truly special, and will surely go down in Yellowcard‘s history. All three bands put on a stellar performance, but Yellowcard brought the energy big-time, with each member giving it their all. They sounded incredible, and the crowd gave that energy right back to them.
The only thing missing was a touch of theatrics- some confetti would not have gone astray, and the only stage dressing was a bleak black banner with the lyrics “staying up all night” which was present during all three bands’ performances. Despite this, the hype was real and the band played phenomenally. After witnessing this performance, it’s very clear that Yellowcard is in a healthy and exciting place, and I can say with confidence that they’ll be back much sooner next time.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Yellowcard tour continues through Sydney on 9th April, Newcastle on 11th April and Brisbane on 13th April. Get all the dates and details HERE.
The author attended the 5th April 2025 show at Margaret Court Arena. Photo by the author.
