fall out boy at the Paycom Center
BY ALLY ARENS
Lineup: Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, The Maine, Daisy Grenade
Fall Out Boy are in the midst of a second leg of North American tour dates in support of last year’s So Much For Stardust, dubbed “So Much For (2our) Dust”, bringing their showstopping set to arenas across the US. I had the absolute pleasure of catching their show at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center this past Monday, and what ensued was nothing short of phenomenal.
Kicking off the show was Daisy Grenade, a pop-rock act currently signed to Pete Wentz’ DCD2 Records who are an absolute delight to observe. Co-vocalists Dani Nigro and Keaton Whittaker have an on-stage chemistry that is truly captivating, and their songs are extremely catchy and fun to listen to. Though I (sadly) could not catch more than the first 3 songs for timing reasons, I look forward to seeing them again soon, and they are worth the watch if they’re coming to a city near you!
Next up were Warped Tour scene vets The Maine, who brought a side of elegance to the stage as they emerged dressed in crisp, white suits. Their blend of power-pop is a bit more mellow than some of the rest of the lineup, but they kept the crowd engaged, even inviting a couple of fans up on stage to sing with them. They’ve been performing for over 15 years for a reason, and continue to win over new fans.
Third on the bill, and serving as main support for this full leg of the tour, were 2000s rockers Jimmy Eat World, who sounded nothing short of amazing as they played through an hour-long discography-spanning set, culminating in their smash hit “The Middle”. They sounded absolutely fantastic, and kept the crowd hyped up for what was to come. It was also really awesome to see Fall Out Boy be able to take one of their early influences out on the road as support, as Pete Wentz himself even said on stage that they wouldn’t have become the band they were without bands like Jimmy Eat World.
Finally, just after 9 PM, Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” began to play over the PA system, which fans who have been following along online recognized as a sign that the show was about to begin, and the crowd began to sing along in unison. This hype only grew as the track transitioned to none other than FOB’s rendition of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” The energy was through the roof by the time the track ended and the opening notes of “Love From the Other Side” echoed through the arena as Patrick, Pete, Andy, and Joe took the stage.
Fall Out Boy put on, by far, one of the best live shows I have seen in recent years. The production level was outstanding, with fireworks, flames, bubble cannons, and giant dog puppets galore; meanwhile, Patrick Stump and co. sounded tighter than ever as they jammed their way through a career-spanning setlist including an excellent mix of hits and fan-favorite deep cuts.
One of the most talked-about aspects of any Fall Out Boy show lately has been the now-infamous “8-Ball” segment, where the band plays a random song - often a deep cut from their back catalog. Attendees of this OKC show were in for a special treat, as the track of choice was none other than “Tiffany Blews,” a song from their 2008 album Folie a Deux that had not been played live since before their 2009 hiatus, and the crowd went absolutely nuts. Another highlight is their piano medley segment with a rotation of surprise tracks, allowing Patrick’s vocals to shine even more. They also brought a fan on stage near the end of the set who was attending her 100th FOB show, proving the dedication of their fanbase and of the band to their fans.
This tour is a must-see for any Fall Out Boy fan (unless M A N I A is your favorite, then you may be out of luck…), so be sure to check it out if they’re coming to a city near you. “So Much For (2our) Dust” continues for another month, culminating in a sold-out show at Minneapolis' Target Center on April 6; dates and tickets can be found on FOB’s website.
