Motion City Soundtrack toasted to over two decades of their fan-favorite debut studio album, I Am the Movie, at St. Andrew’s Hall on January 3rd. The Minneapolis pop-punk stalwarts rang in the new year with a front-to-back performance of that first album, followed by an encore that bounced among the rest of the group’s discography. Here are five moments that stood out from the show:
The Future (Still) Freaks Me Out
One benefit of hearing an album performance in sequential order was getting to listen to tracks in a spot different from where an encore-worthy song might otherwise land in a more traditional setlist arrangement. Case in point: After ripping through “Cambridge” and “Shiver,” Motion City Soundtrack launched into their enduring hit “The Future Freaks Me Out,” immediately kicking the energy in the room up a notch. As vocalist Justin Courtney Pierre emphatically waved his arms, the crowd jumped and roared along to the cut’s anthemic opening.
Crowd Chemistry
The crowd buzzed with excitement from “The Future Freaks Me Out” on and gamely followed the band’s lead through the heart of the main set. On “My Favorite Accident,” the fans pumped their fists in unison, while Jesse Johnson landed a headstand on his keyboard. On “Perfect Teeth,” the crowd clapped along together to Pierre’s soaring vocals. And on “The Red Dress,” the audience perfectly matched the singer’s call-and-response: “You say you’ll burn this city down / With stars and stripes.”
A-OK Second Half for the Main Set
The second half of the main set showcased the sonic variety I Am the Movie brought to the table. “Don’t Call It a Comeback” seized the attention of the crowd from the get-go with its pummeling drum intro; “Capital H” provided a bouncing synth jam; and “Autographs & Apologies” led with its slow-burning, solid bassline. The band closed out this portion of the show with “A-OK,” and the crowd fervently sang and clapped along once more.
Deep Cuts and Classics Fuel the Encore
After departing the stage, the band quickly returned for an encore filled with both hits and rarities. For the completionists, the band truly gave the full I Am the Movie experience by delivering a ripping rendition of “1000 Paper Cranes,” the B-side / bonus track from that record. Elsewhere in the early portion of the encore, jams from Even If It Kills Me and My Dinosaur Life reigned supreme. Pierre’s voice shined bright in the mid-song breakdown of “Point of Extinction,” before the band’s instrumentation heartily kicked back in. The crowd happily bounced along to the sturdy bassline, anthemic vocals, and punchy riff of “This Is for Real.” And the fans clapped along to the chugging riff and drumbeat of “Disappear.”
Memorable Closing One-Two Punch
The band saved some favorites from Commit This to Memory for last, ending the night on a high note with “L.G. FUAD” and “Everything Is Alright.” On the former, the crowd jumped along to the track’s emphatic closing. And on the latter, the crowd roared along once more to Pierre’s anthemic vocals and the track’s walloping drumbeat.
“Thank you for caring 20 years after the fact,” Pierre said as he wrapped up the I Am the Movie portion of the set. “I don’t know if any of us expected it, but we’re very grateful.”
