There’s a place on the corner of New Jersey Street, where everyone inside the Deluxe room is on their feet. Three bands took to the stage and it felt so right, and that’s what we’re going to be talking about tonight (or at least at 1:42 a.m.).
Yellowcard recently made a stop at Deluxe at Old National Centre as part of their latest North American tour, bringing along Finch and One OK Rock.
I’ve made a point to check out Yellowcard every time they pass through town since seeing them in 2011, Finch is one from my middle school days I never thought I’d get to see, and One OK Rock was a band I met at the Warped Tour last summer, but didn’t have time to check out. Now I have all three in the same place and I get to watch them all in a row. So without further ado, time to lift this sail and get into this show. Allons-y.
It’s a decent turnout here in the basement. Some are high school-aged kids who may have seen all 3 on Warped last summer, and some who are closer to my age, who remember the days of singing along to What It Is To Burn and Ocean Avenue many years ago. Others look like they’re here primarily for one band, and I think I know which one that is.
One OK Rock is a band that hails all the way from Japan. There, they are one of the biggest acts around, having played a show before 30,000+ fans before making their way stateside for this tour. In the US, they’re an opening act, playing before audiences who may not have even heard of them. I had the pleasure of meeting them on Warped, but didn’t get to see them. Now is my chance.
There may be a slight language barrier, but once they’re on stage, they speak in a language that’s universal to everyone, and that’s music. Trust me when I say this, they speak it very well.
As for their style, it’s a little varied. Some songs border on metal and hard rock, and others fall into more emo and alternative territory. They may be playing for a crowd that’s 1/1000 of what they did previously (not an exact figure), but by the way they were playing, you wouldn’t notice. They were energetic, commanded your attention from beginning to end, and for lack of a better term, One OK Rock, well, rocks. Judging by the crowd reaction, this doesn’t look like an opener that appeals to one demographic, they look more like a a band that should be playing their own headlining shows in the States, and if this keeps up, it may not be too much longer until we do see that.
I’d say the bar has been set pretty high now. As crews tear down their setup and get ready for the next, a section of the audience moves towards the hallway where the merch tables are, and I can’t say that I blame them, and not because it’s probably 10 degrees colder out there…Meanwhile, I take this opportunity to move a little bit closer. Excited chatter fills a room that’s getting warmer and warmer by the second. Oh yeah, and it’s pretty warm on its own, too.
Up next is a band I’m excited to finally see, and now just because I had a lovely conversation with them just hours ago. Finch was a band that many of my friends were into back in middle school, and I never got a chance to see them live, save for the interview I got to sit in on last summer. Now is my chance. This crowd is thoroughly warmed up, so let’s see what happens next.
The lights go out with an illuminated logo positioned in the center of the stage. The familiar opening of “What It Is To Burn” echoes throughout the room, and we’re underway.
Finch has been around for a while, but they still know how to bring it. The musicianship is spot-on, frontman Nate Barcalow’s vocals sound as good as they’ve ever been, and they play with enough energy to put even those up-and-coming bands to shame.
As for the crowd, something seemed off, whether it was from many not looking like they knew who was playing, having a tough act to follow, or otherwise. If I could describe it, it felt kind of like when I saw the Deftones open for Avenged Sevenfold, where they sounded great and pockets of the crowd were really into them, but for the most part, everyone just looked like they were anxious for the band after to go on.
If it is an issue of unfamiliarity, then maybe it’ll work out. Some of them seemed to be getting more and more into it as it went on, and anytime you have a chance to gain new fans, that’s always a plus. As for me, I was impressed with what they brought to the table. Definitely worth the many years I’ve waited to finally catch a show.
Now for our main event, and of course, the uncomfortably long wait that goes along with it. Along with the excited chatter and occasional selfies going on around me that I’m trying my hardest not to photobomb, the music pouring through the speakers is sending me even further back in time. Sing-alongs of Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, and my personal favorite, Taking Back Sunday are going on. Actually, it does help to pass the time, and we don’t sound half bad either. It’s like the bar full of people singing “Don’t Stop Believin'” late at night, but replace that with “Sugar, We’re Going Down” and “Cute Without the ‘E.'”
The last note rings out from the aforementioned TBS song, and the lights go out, and it’s showtime. Our favorite Jacksonville natives take the stage, and away we go.
Having seen Yellowcard three previous times, there isn’t a whole lot that surprises me about their set anymore, but that’s not to say they’re any less entertaining the fourth time. They encourage sing-alongs (or making up the words if you don’t know them), get everyone to jump around like the fourth quarter is beginning at Camp Randall Stadium, dance, and overall, just have a great time. Actually, that’s one of their two rules for the evening, along with losing your voice so you can’t actually tell anyone how much fun you had the next day. Judging by how the rest of the set went, I don’t know how successful we were at this, but I digress. Let’s move on.
Seeing as they just released a new record, a good portion of the set was dedicated to that, but that’s not to say they didn’t play the old familiar favorites (frontman Ryan Key even joked about people who wanted in off the street saying they really loved that “Ocean Boulevard” song when they were in middle school). Regardless of what they were playing, everyone seemed to take those two rules to heart. It didn’t matter if it was something new that they didn’t know, or if it was “Only One” (which really did have people scream their lungs out), the same amount of heart and enthusiasm was on display both onstage and here in the crowd. We even get a small mosh pit when things really pick up, and of course, the occasional crowd surfer.
What impresses me most about Yellowcard is that they’re able to do it all. They have the loud, rock n’ roll songs that’ll get everyone moving, and the softer ballads designed to bring it down a few notches. Nonetheless, this crowd is eating all of it up. We dance, we laugh, we cry, we do a combination of all 3 when violinist Sean Mackin has us say good night to his child, who watches on from the VIP section with mom. Looking back, this is the kind of show that crams so much into an hour, yet I’m not tired of it. I actually want more. Thankfully, this is an actual headlining set rather than the 20-30 minutes they’re allotted on the Warped Tour.
Despite my wishes for it to keep going on, the show must end at some point. The band exits with only Key onstage to sing “California” before he bids us farewell and leaves us in the dark (literally).
Yet the crowd wants more, clapping in unison while chanting “encore!” Our wishes are eventually met, and we get 3 more songs, which concluded with – of course – “Ocean Avenue,” and maybe the loudest sing-along of the evening.
One photograph from the stage later, the show ends, and it’s time to head towards the exits. Some head to the merch tables to pick something up or meet members from the previous two acts. Me? I’m heading back to my car, wondering if I can somehow fit all of this into something that’s less than 1000 words this time. Oops…
Final verdict?
Since the first time I saw Yellowcard back in 2011, I’ve made it a point to see them every time they come to town, and tonight reminded me why. I may be getting older, but I still get excited when I see they’re coming to town. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re supporting acts know how to bring it.
How to sum this up? Let’s just say this night I let the waves crash down on me and take me away to my musical paradise.
The Good:
Where to begin? One OK Rock was a welcome surprise, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see them do their own headlining shows in the States anytime soon; Finch, despite how some in the crowd may have felt, showed me that they’re still on top of their game; and Yellowcard reminded me why I still care about this band almost 12 years later.
The Bad:
It wasn’t long enough? Seriously though, not too many complaints outside of having to stand behind people taller than I am and feeling like I was packed into a sardine can at times.