This year was nothing short of spectacular with regards to music for me. There was a ton of great new music, I went to 14 concerts (well 15 if you count the day I saw I Don't Know How But They Found Me twice in one day), and met some of my favorite bands. Here are the best of the best moments in chronological order:
Meeting Taking Back Sunday
Last year Taking Back Sunday announced their twentieth anniversary tour with a stop in Minneapolis. I've come close to seeing TBS before, but it never worked out and so I decided I wasn't going to wait any longer. I purchased the VIP Meet & Greet package and waited rather impatiently for April to arrive.
Meeting the band was pretty much everything I hoped it would be. They were so cool and it was a great experience. I also got to compliment John on his solo album from last year.
The concert itself was more than I could have hoped for. Getting early admission with the meet & greet package, I got barrier for the first time ever right in the middle. The Maine opened and put on a great show, but I was there for TBS.
With the 20th anniversary tour, they were playing their first album Tell All Your Friends in full, then either their second or third album in full depending on a coin toss that took place the night before. My show was lucky to get to hear Louder Now in full, which was the first TBS I ever owned and its what got me into the band. Adam's stage presence, swinging the mic, was worth the price of admission in my book, but the band as a whole was on point. After playing the two albums in full they came back out and played a few more songs and closed out the show with my favorite track off the second album, A Decade Under the Influence. That song was my ringtone for like three years in college, just to give you some perspective. Earlier in the night, one of my new friends that I met at the meet and greet said "I bet Adam will sing right to you." And I said something along the lines of "pfft I wish!" Well I got my wish on the bridge of the song! Honestly it was the perfect ending to an incredible night.
I Don't Know How But They Found Me in Three Parts
I almost fell off the treadmill one afternoon when IDKHow announced that they were bringing their Night Heat tour to Madison in May. I immediately bought tickets and was so excited. Then the local alternative radio station, 106.7, announced that they were doing a pre-show show at a newspaper office and tickets for this acoustic show were free! I jumped and got a ticket for that as well, not even sure I'd be able to take time off work (but either way, I was going).
The first show, the acoustic show and interview with the band was such a special event. We, the devoted crowd, all gathered on the floor while the band played three songs. Afterward, most of the crowd cleared out, but me and a handful of others awkwardly hung around until the band came out and graciously met us. Getting to chat briefly with Dallon and Ryan was such a special experience.
Then that evening was the actual concert. I appreciated getting to share a table with new friends and staying out of the crush of teenagers on the floor. Superet opened and put on an awesome show on the day of the debut albums release (it's on my list of top albums of 2019, go listen!). Then IDKHow came out and blew me away. Dallon's stage presence is incomparable and Ryan plays with such intensity, it's amazing to watch.
The third time I saw them was later this year in Belvidere for a one-off show the day after they opened for Twenty One Pilots in Chicago. Just like the first time I saw them, I was blown away by the energy and intensity with which they played. Never a bad experience with I Don't Know How But They Found Me.
Frank Iero's Surprise
Exactly one year ago, Frank Iero announced he would have new music coming in spring 2019 with his band Frank Iero and the Future Violents. On March 20th, the debut single, Young and Doomed was released and My Chemical Romance fans everywhere lost their collective minds with one simple line “I’m not okay, oh wait that’s the other guy”. I was really excited about this album, and quickly pre-ordered one of the 24k Lush vinyl variant. It arrived the same day as the custom running shirt my friend Maria made for me to wear at my marathon that was coming up (as well as some homemade Fall Out Boy merch!) and at first I was wrapped up in opening that package first. Then I got to opening the package the vinyl came in and was absolutely stunned. Right on top was a note from Frank himself thanking me, by name, for the support. I had no idea that was coming. I had no idea that was going to happen and honestly, it means so much to me months later.
The Return of My Chemical Romance
Back on March 22nd, 2013 My Chemical Romance announced they were disbanding. I was sad as I was so sure they would tour off the Conventional Weapons releases and I’d finally get to see them live. But this was also about a month after the return of Fall Out Boy, and somehow I felt like this wasn’t the end. There were theories all over the place, but the one that for some reason struck a chord with me was the Smashing Pumpkins Theory. It stated that Gerard, being such a fan of the Smashing Pumpkins, was emulating their career. The Smashing Pumpkins took a six year hiatus before reuniting so many people put a pin in 2019 as when MCR would return. This also would coincide with the year that the Danger Days album universe was set in.
On Halloween, I decided to dress as a Killjoy, something I had been planning since summer 2018, and was feeling very excited for the day. I was eating lunch when I saw my friend post that MCR had changed their facebook profile picture. This was big. A band that’s been inactive for over six years doing anything online is a big deal, but especially on Halloween 2019 (and after a cryptic post by Frank Iero the night before). Then came the Instagram account, and the Instagram stories, and then at 2 PM it was official - My Chemical Romance had returned. There was excitement. There were tears. There was… no work done that afternoon (sorry boss).
On December 20th, I, along with thousands of my closest friends, watched a live stream of the reunion show. I wasn’t 100% sure I’d ever get to see MCR perform live. I’ve seen the concerts on YouTube, but it just isn’t the same as knowing that what I was seeing was really happening on the other side of the country. I’m not sure the last time I was up until 2 AM, but it was so worth it. My biggest hope for 2020 is that they will release new music and/or tour somewhere that I can get to one of those concerts after so many years.
Finally Seeing Jimmy Eat World Live
Jimmy Eat World is one of those bands that's always been in my consciousness, but for the longest time just existed as a couple of tracks on my iPod. But then last year I started listening to their more recent releases, I especially enjoy Integrity Blues, and saw on twitter they were working on a new album.
Then, or somewhere around there, they announced they were going to be playing Summerfest, the problem was, I already had a commitment for that day and couldn't go. But I held out hope that maybe they'd announce more tour dates in the fall. Luckily I was right and they came to Madison on November 6th. It was a really snowy and cold night, but lining up early was worth it, as once again I was at the barrier. They played all my favorite tracks off the new album Surviving, and it was a really great experience.
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