A DAY TO REMEMBER / YELLOWCARD / THE WONDER YEARS – LIVE
By Mia Palazzo
The Maximum Fun Tour held at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport lived up to its name, bringing together A Day to Remember, Yellowcard, and The Wonder Years for a night that felt like a perfect blend of early 2000s nostalgia and modern energy. The crowd was filled with longtime fans who grew up on Warped Tour and new fans who discovered these bands through streaming and TikTok, creating a rare sense of unity across generations.
The Wonder Years opened the show, and as someone who has seen them before, they didn’t disappoint. Their set mixed emotional favorites like “Came Out Swinging” with reimagined songs from their Burst and Decay Vol. III record. Hearing “I Don’t Like Who I Was Then” transition into its newer, softer version showed how much they have grown as a band while keeping the same heartfelt connection with fans. Lead singer Dan Campbell’s vocals were raw and sincere, and the crowd made sure every lyric was echoed back.
Yellowcard followed, and from the second the lights dimmed, the nostalgia hit hard. The band kicked things off with the “Top Gun Anthem,” played live by guitarist Ryan Mendez, before breaking into “Only One” and “Lights and Sounds.” The energy was infectious. It felt surreal to see Yellowcard playing an arena stage with confetti, pyro, and bright neon lighting. Violinist Sean Mackin was unstoppable, his playing giving each song its signature emotional punch.
Frontman Ryan Key took a moment to reflect on how far the band had come, explaining that after breaking up in 2016, their reunion at Riot Fest in 2022 reignited their passion for music. They balanced the set perfectly between old and new, with songs like “Way Away,” “Light Up the Sky,” and the new fan favorite “Better Days.” Of course, they closed with “Ocean Avenue,” and it was impossible not to sing along.
When A Day to Remember took the stage, it felt like chaos in the best way possible. They opened with “The Downfall of Us All,” and from there, the entire arena transformed into a giant mosh pit. Jeremy McKinnon’s voice effortlessly shifted between melodic choruses and heavy growls as the crowd surfed and screamed every word. The band played a mix of their classics and newer tracks from Big Ole Album Vol. 1, including “Bad Blood,” “Flowers,” and “LeBron.” During “LeBron,” giant inflatable basketballs were tossed into the crowd while the theme from “Space Jam” blasted over the speakers, adding a fun and ridiculous twist that perfectly matched the tour’s name.
One of the wildest moments came during “Better Off This Way,” when fans crowd surfed on top of other crowd surfers, something that has to be seen to be believed. A Day to Remember has always known how to bring controlled chaos to a live show, and this was no exception. Toward the end of their set, the lights dimmed, and acoustic guitars came out for “If It Means a Lot to You.” Thousands of phone lights filled the arena as the audience sang in unison, creating one of the most beautiful and emotional moments of the night. The band closed with “All I Want” and “All Signs Point to Lauderdale,” sending everyone out with sore throats and huge smiles.
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