Concert Review: The Boys of Zummer Tour

Fall Out Boy using flames to light up their songs in the dark. 

Words by: Emily Racanelli

Lineup: Hoodie Allen, Wiz Khalifa, and Fall Out Boy

Location: Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, NY

Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2015

           

The Boys of Zummer Tour: A Lineup To Remember For Centuries

Eight years ago, Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre hosted the Honda Civic Tour, headlined by Fall Out Boy with The Academy Is... as an opening act. The four Chicago natives played a lengthy set to a crowd of 20-somethings who raced over from their day jobs on a weeknight to hear underground hits such as “Hum Hallelujah” and “The Carpel Tunnel of Love.” (The latter of which was accompanied by the overtly gory music video featuring The Happy Tree Friends.) Nearly a decade later, FOB took that same stage with an entirely new confidence, trading in violent cartoons for EDM-infused drum solos and pyrotechnics.

           

Before any of these modern stage tricks could take place, a few acts had to come on first. Instead of up and coming pop punk bands, FOB decided to take with them a slew of rappers in an attempt to “diversify their fan base.” First up was Long Island native Hoodie Allen. Albeit in a totally different genre, Allen still managed to attack the same beloved pop punk theme of never growing up. This was exemplified in one of his closing songs, “Act My Age.” The (extremely catchy) chorus goes, “My friends grew up, they never get drunk/They’re gonna get jobs, they’re gonna pay bills/I’ll never do that.” I’ll admit, being a die hard punk rock fan, I was expecting several hours of auditory torture leading up to the main event, but Hoodie Allen pleasantly surprised me. Not only were his lyrics relatable, but his stage presence was captivating. A major upgrade from the small clubs he is accustomed to headlining, Allen was running from side to side and dancing around, eagerly trying to win over the restless crowd of teenagers. The bright moment of his set, however, was not his own song, but a cover of Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy.” I’d like to give a shoutout to Allen’s guitarist who sang most of it--what an outstanding voice! He almost made me forget that Hoodie Allen was on stage. Would I have preferred a more alternative band as an opener? Yes, but if it has to be a rapper, I’m perfectly content with a guy who knows how to appreciate classic punk rock.

Unfortunately, a majority of the audience most definitely did not appreciate punk rock--or any other musical genre for that matter. The crowd was not your typical FOB crew, as it consisted of  mainly 12-15 year olds covered in weed-themed socks and shirts.These kids probably snuck out of their houses in completely different outfits and changed in the bathroom before Wiz Khalifa’s set.

The smell of marijuana wafted through the air as the self-proclaimed “King Of Weed” took the stage for his headlining performance. Throughout its entirety, you could see the immense eye rolls of older patrons adorning Taste of Chaos and Suicide Silence gear. These concert-goers are the real troopers, suffering through an obviously unenjoyable hour just to hear Fall Out Boy. Once again, I had the bar set pretty low, but was pleasantly surprised. I may have only been familiar with “Roll Up” and “Young, Wild & Free,” but Khalifa’s antics were enough to help me keep my composure. One thing I noticed though, he literally is unable to go a few minutes without mentioning weed. (Being sober to Wiz Khalifa is what wearing a shirt on stage is to Andy Hurley: something we probably won’t see in our lifetimes). Khalifa went as far as lighting up during his set and tossing giant inflatable joints into the crowd before the encore. My heart truly goes out to all the parents in attendance who I saw cringing in their seats and stuffing their ears with earplugs to drown out lyrics such as “So what we get drunk/So what we smoke weed/We’re just having fun/We don’t care who sees.”

Hopefully those parents took their earplugs out before Khalifa’s last song, as it most definitely showcased his ability to be serious as a performer. He closed with “See You Again” which is currently dominating radio stations nationwide. Almost immediately, the entire crowd sobered up and joined to together to sing the chorus. A set that may have started with topics of ignorance and disregard for life ended on a high note (see what I did there?) reminding these impressionable kids that when it comes down to it, you have to appreciate every second.

As the nighttime sky set in over the waterside venue, I was most definitely ready to enjoy every second of a band that has held a piece of my heart for the past 10 years. The intro to “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” began to play as the stage lights centered on the massive platform, occupied by Stump, Wentz, Trohman, and Hurley on a drum riser in the back. Since that classic song had been released, a lot has changed for these midwestern suburban heroes. Marriage, divorce, parenting, and a four year hiatus raised speculations that the Fall Out Boy that released From Under The Cork Tree in 2005 was no more. Fear not, the song is performed exactly the same as it was a decade ago, except Stump has honed in on his stage presence and shed a few pounds.

I’ll be the first to say that the quartet’s latest pop-infused album [American Beauty/American Psycho, released January 2015] had me worried that FOB setlists would no longer contain the classic B-sides that fans fell in love with as they moshed alone in their room on Friday nights. Fortunately, the 18-song set was evenly balanced, providing a dose of mainstream hits for the casual concert-goers (such as “Centuries” and “Irresistible”) and enough throwbacks for fans like myself who refuse to acknowledge that FOB is actually on the rotation for every radio station in the country.            

One highlight was “A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More “Touch Me.” Some bands chose to retire their old songs when they change their sound (I’m looking at you, PVRIS!), but FOB is determined to have those obnoxious nonsensical song titles live on through the years. I think I speak for myself and everyone else who grew up with Fall Out Boy when I say that these guys can release whatever pop song they’d like, as long as hits such as “...Sixteen Candles” can stick around!

            

That is not to say the newer stuff isn’t equally as outstanding. From post-hiatus album Save Rock and Roll was “Alone Together.” Even though the excessively long titles are done, the lyrics are just as riveting. The second verse cries, “My heart is like a stallion/They love it more when it’s broken.” Thankfully, the words (courtesy of bassist Pete Wentz) aren’t the only thing that stays the same. No FOB show is complete without a few of his inspiring monologues. What hit home the most was when Wentz told the crowd that there’s nothing wrong with being an outsider. The world might look at you like you don’t fit in, but that doesn’t mean you give up. Embrace yourself for who you are."

It’s moments like these where lifelong FOB fans remember why they pay an embarrassing amount of money to go out on a weeknight and sit through hours of rap next to a pre-teen wearing a t-shirt with the weed leaf on it. It’s all for those few instances when you get transported back to the beginning. While most of the world is familiar with the classic hits, the crowd always falls mute when FOB closes out their set with “Saturday,” off of debut album Take This To Your Grave. No matter how successful they get, every show will end w/ Pete Wentz tossing his bass over to a tech as he screams along with the bridge. The metalcore side comes out as he says, “I read about the afterlife/But I never really lived.” From my seat on the upper deck, I scream along, acknowledging that yes, I have really lived. I lived in the generation where Saturday will always be more than just a day of the week, and nobody can ever take that away from me.

Wiz Khalifa makes his way over to the pit.