Review by Jeff Smith – Performance date: Friday 4 April 2025, Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide, South Australia
One of the most anticipated gigs of the year landed in Adelaide on Friday with an epic line-up worthy of celebrating Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue, arguably the greatest pop punk albums of the last 20 years.
With nostalgia and excitement in the air South Australia welcomed a reformed and fired-up Yellowcard back to the stage with open arms for the first time since their 2017 farewell tour with special guests and friends Plain White T’s and the legendary Motion City Soundtrack.
These are Yellowcard’s biggest Australian shows to date, and the Florida natives ensured that these would be amongst the most memorable in the band’s history.
Pop Punk Intimacy
Hindley Street Music Hall was the perfect setting for this rock show with the venue providing an intimacy that connected audience and band alike.
It’s rare to see these bands outside of an arena or festival, and the great vantage spots in the hall added so much to the experience as a punter.
Setting the Scene
Yellowcard know that a great gig starts with the opening bands bringing along Plain White T’s and Motion City Soundtrack along for the ride, both headline acts in their own right.
Plain White T’s returned to Australia for the second time after a long hiatus showcasing their crowd pleasing and high-energy music, and lifting the roof for a surreal and tender rendition of Hey There Delilah that had the memories flooding back.
Motion City Soundtrack owned the stage with the crowd lapping up every second with rock anthems and a live show that has stood the test of time. This band has legendary status for a reason and favourites like When You’re Around, The Future Freaks Me Out and Everything Is Alright marking a memorable and excellent support set.
The stage was now set for Yellowcard.
Yellowcard: Staying Up All Night
Yellowcard hit the stage with both conviction and purpose. Back in business and with an energy that defied age and time, the band ripped though Ocean Avenue favourites that had the crowd enthralled.
Every moment counted and was a highlight. From the opening notes of Way Away through to Breathing and Believe, tonight was all about Ocean Avenue and a band who were united by an album that changed their lives and projectory.
This rapturous set also featured fan favourites Lights and Sounds, Fighting, With You Around and the underrated Keeper.
At the heart of Yellowcard is the song writing genius of frontman Ryan Key and the punk-virtuosity of violinist Sean Mackin, whose boundless energy and pure joy is front and centre for all to see.
The night ended with the perfect pairing of Only One and the timeless Ocean Avenue.
A New Chapter and Legendary Show
While tonight was about celebration it was also about new beginnings with the announcement of an upcoming album with Travis Barker.
The punk pop gods have answered and a new era for Yellowcard is upon us.
From this performance Yellowcard is well and truly back and firing on all cylinders, with a sense that the best may be yet to come.
A legendary show.
