photo credit: weworemasks*

Fall Out Boy have had an interesting reunion. Where most bands that were birthed from the scene that bred them are going on tour in easy money grabs that are buried within 10th anniversary tours for albums** and the like, Fall Out Boy called off their hiatus, came out with a new album, Save Rock and Roll, within months and hit the road in no time flat. This was a welcomed change from the rest of em, as the album they released is full of the greatness we’re used to, with heavy flourishes of pop. The current club tour seems to be a warm up of sorts for their full fledged arena-tour in the fall, but Houston’s fans came out in eager droves to see the band perform at the Bayou Music Center for the first time in over 5 years.

Hit the jump for the review.

**I’m not complaining about those 10th anniversary tours, by the way.

-grizzly


photo credit: weworemasks

While the rest of the tour saw national acts like Hollywood Holt, NK and New Politics open, Houston’s own American Fangs were given the opportunity to provide support for their hometown show. Their slot was a shade over a half an hour, and they managed to fill the theater with plenty of rock and roll energy, which included a performance of “Pomona,” a single that’s been performing pretty well on Alternative Radio.

Fall Out Boy, backed by a very engaging LED screen set up, brought a rejuvenated presence, hitting the ground running with “Thriller,” and wasting no time getting into the good graces of fans who had waited years to see them again. Years ago, Fall Out Boy opened for blink-182 on their reunion tour, but there was something missing. Donned in plenty of denim (sans Andy Hurley, who still is in possession of more ‘metal’ than anyone in a pop-punk band has ever been), the band looked happier and healthier than they ever have, and their live show reflected as such. I don’t think Patrick Stump has ever sounded better, embracing the spotlight and frontman role more than he ever had in the past.

Their setlist was heavy with new material, and it was nice to put the live touch on songs like “Death Valley” and “Young Volcanoes,” but it was in heavily doubted that a fan of the band during any era left disappointed, as they touched on all of their albums in the twenty song, hour and a half long set. However, the band did make note of a tamer Houston crowd, citing a lack of crowd surfing – which gave the crowd the spark they needed to stop being dullards and start moving a little. Granted, all of my friends and I were off in the back playing our air instruments — but we’re over 25 and have earned this right! The entire set culminated in greatness (as it should) during the encore, where the band performed a one-two punch of “Thnks fr th Mmrs” and “Saturday,” which was more than enough to send everyone home on a high note.

The band will be back in September to perform with Panic! At the Disco at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

[SETLIST]

Thriller
I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me
A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More “Touch Me”
Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes
The Phoenix
This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race
Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do Today
Alone Together
What a Catch, Donnie
Death Valley
Hum Hallelujah
Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy
Sugar, We’re Goin Down
Young Volcanoes
Dance, Dance
I Don’t Care
My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light ‘Em Up)
–
Save Rock and Roll
Thnks fr th Mmrs
Saturday

*The Bayou Music Center photo policy for this tour required a $2500 fee to publish photos of the band that were taken by professional cameras, so I did my best focusing to get some decent pictures to use for the review.