A Sold Out Eagles Ballroom Believes in Fall Out Boy

It was a balmy Tuesday night here in Milwaukee, excitement filled the air, and a sold out crowd packed the Eagles Ballroom. It wasn’t enough that spring had finally arrived in Milwaukee, rather anticipation overflowed for Fall Out Boy, whom were finally in town for the first time in four years.

Their performance at The Rave/Eagles Club on Tuesday marks the beginning of the “Save Rock and Roll Tour”, their first tour since they went on hiatus in 2009. This tour also comes in support of their “comeback” record of the same name, after their intrepid release “Folie à Deux”. 

In the support slot was up and coming rapper Hollywood Holt, who despite the anxious crowd, put on a modest performance. His rhymes mostly focused on having a good time and appearances. (Think Fresh Prince, but a little less family friendly) He spent most of his time attempting to get the crowd pumped up for his friends in Fall Out Boy. Unfortunately, the crowd was there for something they’ve waited all too long for. 

After what seemed like; both figuratively and literally, years of waiting, the lights in the ballroom dimmed and each band member took to their respective instruments, with front man Patrick Stump making a beeline for the front of the stage as they opened the show with the chest pounding “Thriller”. The band looked completely rejuvenated and showed their experience while seemingly presenting this “first show” naivety. Stump’s bouncy voice translated very well from the records, notably hitting those high falsetto notes with ease. Though Stump primarily stood in front of the mic, at times he would lose himself in the music and run around the stage, head banging and standing atop the risers and raising his fist triumphantly. Bassist and songwriter Pete Wentz was just as lively spinning around and kicking in to the air. Our very own Andy Hurley was the most prominent member that night. The drummer played with vigorous ease, hammering out one danceable beat after another. One would think he could play the tunes in his sleep. 

Of course all of this energy was emitted to the crowd, and the fans absorbed this and released it with just as much jubilance through dancing and at times, singing louder than the band. Which was welcomed as Stump urged the crowd to “Sing so loud, that Chicago can hear”.

Fall Out Boy showcased a handful of new tunes from their newest record “Save Rock and Roll”, which many of the fans were already familiar with. The band breezed through the poppy bubblegum song “Alone Together”, the ferociously catchy “The Phoenix” and new hit “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark”. Even premiering “Death Valley”, a song that Wentz said they’ve never played live. Of course it wouldn’t be a proper reunion tour without playing material from their other records. Signature songs like “Sugar, We’re Goin Down”, “Dance, Dance”, “Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy” and “The Take Over, The Breaks Over” were among the many songs sprinkled through the twenty plus song set. The former resonating all too well with those in the Eagles Ballroom.

In apologetic nature, Wentz opened up to the crowd about their secrecy stating “We kept it (the new record) a secret mainly because we needed to make a record that we wanted to make. We didn’t want to be pressured in to something that we weren’t truly dedicated to.” He continued, “There wasn’t any marketing because we didn’t feel you can market it. This was from our hearts to you, you can’t market belief. You guys are belief. Being here, supporting us and giving your all here tonight, that’s belief. You can’t package that.” Before ending the main set, Stump added “We played here four years ago today, for us I think it was worth the wait.”

After a short break, a piano was carted on stage and Stump took his seat to perform the title track from their new record. They ended the encore with fan favorites “Thnks fr th mmrs” and “Saturday”. The band promised the crowd that they would be back in the fall with Panic! At The Disco in which the crowd exploded with joy.

Without a doubt, Fall Out Boy is a band that has been revitalized through time. There was something so familiar, but new about their presence and if their powerful performance is any indication, they’re more than ready to take over the world once again.

Thriller
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 The Water Buffalos
Phoenix
This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race
Where Did The Party Go
Tell That Mick He Just Made My List Of Things To Do Today
“The Take Over, The Breaks Over”
Alone Together
What A Catch, Donnie
Death Valley
Hum Hallelujah
Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy)
Sugar, We’re Going Down
Young Volcanoes
Dance, Dance
I Don’t Care
My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark

Save Rock And Roll
Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
Saturday