Yellowcard – The Kasbah, Coventry.

Support: Like Torches, Set It Off

March 22nd 2013

Ever wish you could go back to your teens for just a couple of hours? Well, forget the DeLoreanbecause what you need is a Yellowcard gig.

Support came in the form of Like Torches, who didn’t really stir a sleepy Coventry crowd. Set If Off on the other hand, had a bit more luck with their Pierce The Veil meets Panic! At The Disco sound.

Yellowcard finally made their way onstage and from behind the smoke, kicked off with a double whammy of newies – Awakening and Surface Of The Sun. The crowd didn’t fully get going until they cracked open the back catalogue, and as they strung Way Away into Breathing, you could see the sheer delight on the old school fans’ faces.

Their set seemed to be never ending as they alternated old and new, creating an atmosphere of pure pop-punk bliss. At times it genuinely felt like you were down the pub with your mates as the banter the boyshad on stage spilled into the crowd. If they weren’t picking out people who looked bored, they were threatening to ‘spank you’ if you didn’t make enough noise – hardly an initiative, everyone loves a spanking, right?!

Yellowcard are a band that have been touring longer than we’ve been drinking, so there’s no point going into their stage presence or the super tightness of their set because let’s face it, these guys can put on an epic show in their sleep. They didn’t even bother to do the whole ‘encore’ thing stating they were too excited to party at the club night after – a band after our own heart!

So as Ocean Avenue played out and the waves of nostalgia washed over, we realised how underestimated Yellowcard are. They said they are coming back later in the year so go and see them, you won’t regret it. Plus, you will never see anyone rock the fuck out on a violin like Sean Mackin.

Contributor: Gena Hollyoake

Photography: Ali Horton