We Could Leave This Town And Run Forever
In a few hours from the time of writing,Yellowcard will have called time on their two decade long career with a final show at the Anaheim House of Blues. To what extent you can trust any band claiming to be on their final tour, I'm not sure. But they've been on hiatus before, from 2008-10. I'm pretty sure that's how it works, you're allowed one crack at being on hiatus and then you have to quit forever.
In the years before and after, there have been few bands who have contributed more to pop-punk. I saw them 13 years ago supporting New Found Glory and thought they had something special, not just because they had a dude who could play the violin. Here were a band who wore their heart on their sleeve and had loads of great energetic songs that stayed in your head. Ocean Avenue remains one of the all time great pop-punk records* and it was a joy to see them revisit it in full at Slam Dunk Festival last year, with a crowd so full of appreciation for it and for them.
Unlike a lot of bands, they also continued to produce strong records post-hiatus. Anyone with a passing interest in the genre ought to check out Southern Air and When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes. As farewells go, the band have judged this one pretty well, with a large final tour encompassing decent sections of the globe. It was good to see them play a big room one last time at Shepherds Bush Empire in December, but I have fond memories of acoustic shows in smaller spaces too, Bush Hall and Union Chapel springing to mind.
I'm something of a curmudgeon when it comes to pop-punk in 2017. I firmly believe that it was better in my day and I'll continue to cite Yellowcard as a case in point. I wish them all the best in the future and these young whippersnappers could do worse than heed their example.
I'm especially fond of the following lyrics from "Awakening", "Yes I miss you still and probably always will. I'm living with a busted heart that I will have until I find the strength I know, it's somewhere in my bones, to pull the curtain up again and get on with this show". A little cheesy perhaps, but a succinct summation of something I've felt a lot. However wretched you feel, however depressed, however much you feel you can't go on, you'll always have the power and you'll always find the strength. Cheers YC.
*I am aware that some people will see this as a "tallest dwarf" competition.
In the years before and after, there have been few bands who have contributed more to pop-punk. I saw them 13 years ago supporting New Found Glory and thought they had something special, not just because they had a dude who could play the violin. Here were a band who wore their heart on their sleeve and had loads of great energetic songs that stayed in your head. Ocean Avenue remains one of the all time great pop-punk records* and it was a joy to see them revisit it in full at Slam Dunk Festival last year, with a crowd so full of appreciation for it and for them.
Unlike a lot of bands, they also continued to produce strong records post-hiatus. Anyone with a passing interest in the genre ought to check out Southern Air and When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes. As farewells go, the band have judged this one pretty well, with a large final tour encompassing decent sections of the globe. It was good to see them play a big room one last time at Shepherds Bush Empire in December, but I have fond memories of acoustic shows in smaller spaces too, Bush Hall and Union Chapel springing to mind.
I'm something of a curmudgeon when it comes to pop-punk in 2017. I firmly believe that it was better in my day and I'll continue to cite Yellowcard as a case in point. I wish them all the best in the future and these young whippersnappers could do worse than heed their example.
I'm especially fond of the following lyrics from "Awakening", "Yes I miss you still and probably always will. I'm living with a busted heart that I will have until I find the strength I know, it's somewhere in my bones, to pull the curtain up again and get on with this show". A little cheesy perhaps, but a succinct summation of something I've felt a lot. However wretched you feel, however depressed, however much you feel you can't go on, you'll always have the power and you'll always find the strength. Cheers YC.
*I am aware that some people will see this as a "tallest dwarf" competition.
Comments
Post a Comment