For Fall Out Boy, Michigan remains an integral part of the band’s rise and continued success. “We used to play Detroit so much,” remarked lead singer Patrick Stump midway through the band’s set, as he particularly recalled frequenting The Shelter on many weekends.
If the thousands of screaming fans at Pine Knob Music Theatre were any indication, the pop-punk titans still have plenty of sway in the area. For the band, 2023 has had plenty of milestones for the band’s past and present: Their beloved debut album with Fueled by Ramen, Take This to Your Grave, turned 20 this year, while their latest record So Much (for) Stardust topped Billboard’s Top Rock Albums. With the combination of classics and recent hits, sparks flew at the concert (literally and figuratively). Here are five moments that stood out from the show:
Explosive Start
The set started with a bang, with So Much (for) Stardust single “Love From the Other Side” crackling with the energy of Stump’s roaring vocals and the colorful pops of fireworks at the back of the stage. However, it was the next track, “The Phoenix,” that showcased the most impressive pyrotechnics the band had in store. Roaring lines of fire criss-crossed behind the band, and, in a scene that would make Mad Max proud, bassist Pete Wentz unleashed plumes of fire from the top of his bass. No fireworks or flames were needed to spark the crowd on the following track, though; Andy Hurley’s anthemic opening drum beat for “Sugar We’re Goin Down” helped set off the first of many huge singalongs.
Take This to Your Grave
The early phase of the set also satisfied longtime fans with a sequence of favorites from Take This to Your Grave, including “Chicago Is So Two Years Ago”, “Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy”, and “Calm Before the Storm.” In a neat bit of transforming the stage, the overhead lighting rig lowered just overhead the band – giving the air of an intimate club show the band would’ve been playing two decades ago. In another nod to the band’s history, Fall Out Boy welcomed The Academy Is…’s singer (and past collaborator) William Beckett to team up with Stump on the vocals for “Chicago Is So Two Years Ago.” And the crowd screamed along to the chorus of “Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy.”
Chemistry Two Decades in the Making
With Fall Out Boy featuring the same bandmates who put together Take This to Your Grave 20 years ago, it’s no surprise that the band performs as a well-oiled machine, letting each band member shine throughout the set. Stump’s voice impressed in a mid-set segment he performed largely solo while also on the piano, including a rousing rendition of Infinity on High slow burner “Golden”; Hurley’s work evoked a tribal drumbeat on “Heaven, Iowa”; Joe Trohman unleashed a squiggly guitar solo that helped cap off “The Last of the Real Ones”; and Wentz’s iconic opening bassline helped kick off another fervent singalong on “Dance, Dance.”
Covers Galore
In a few fun bits, Fall Out Boy also rumbled through some classic covers. During Stump’s piano segment, he led the crowd on a soaring singalong of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”. (And of course the track’s “born and raised in south Detroit” line was a huge hit among the fans.) The band also chugged through the rollicking riffs of Ozzy Osborne’s “Crazy Train.” And on a more serious note, Fall Out Boy sent their well wishes to Milo Aukerman (who recently suffered a mild heart attack), with a ripping cover of Descendents’ “Coffee Mug.”
Sprint to the Finish
Pine Knob Music Theatre has an 11 p.m. curfew – with each minute over resulting in a $1,000 fine. “Usually we’d go off for the encore but we’re close to curfew so we’re just gonna play a bunch more songs,” Wentz said towards the end of the set.
The final phase of the show featured both hits and rarities. In one segment, the band have been featuring a rotating spot dictated by a “Magic 8 Ball” bit, this time landing on Infinity on High’s “Don’t You Know Who I Think I Am?”, a cut the band hadn’t played since 2007 (per setlist.fm).
The remainder of the set was a sprint to the finish, packing in big hitters like “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” – once again leaning fittingly on the pyrotechnics – as well as “Thnks fr th Mmrs” and “Centuries,” each of which garnered a huge clapalong from the audience. “Saturday” put a perfect bow on the night – because the concert actually was on a Saturday, and the band brought things full circle, opening with one of their recent singles and closing with one of their earliest hits. Wentz lent his screaming to play off Stump’s clean vocals, while Hurley delivered a flurry of drum hits. By the time the last streams of confetti floated down to the jubilant crowd, the clock showed the set ended at 11 p.m. – perfectly on time.
