Live Review: Fall Out Boy with Jimmy Eat World at Madison Square Garden

Opening second of the support acts for Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World played as though they were headlining and not in “The Middle.” Jimmy Eat World started their career over thirty years ago, yet they rocked as though they were in their early twenties, bringing a heady nostalgic energy to the venue. Jimmy Eat World was the first dose in a 2 dose vaccine against boredom and the lull of the work week. During their hour set they broke out the fan favorites as “Pain,” “Bleed America,” and of course “The Middle.” The band acknowledged their punk roots by playing “Hear You Me.” A few audience members, who admitted they did not know Jimmy Eat World well, were moved by the music, and rocked out. Jimmy Eat World was the perfect appetizer for what was yet to come.

Fall Out Boy delivered a masterclass in nostalgia and unpredictability at Madison Square Garden. The venue became a haven for pop-punk euphoria as Fall Out Boy unleashed a sonic whirlwind upon their adoring fans. The band’s ability to ignite a crowd seemed boundless, as they played hit after hit from their massive discography. The energy surged from the opening chords of “Love From the Other Side,” the arena’s collective voice joined in for the cathartic chorus as fire and pyrotechnics lit up the stage. The fire was just getting started. Pete Wentz’s bass guitar began to double as a flamethrower, fashioned like something out of a Mad Max movie. Flames emerged from the neck of his bass guitar for the song “The Phoenix” further solidifying the night’s trajectory, signaling a relentless barrage of anthems and excitement was in store.

The audience erupted when the band delved into the unmistakable riffs of “Sugar, We’re Goin Down.” The backdrop curtain fell revealing a large cactus and a person in a bunny suit hopped around the stage. Following that was “Uma Thurman,” whisking the crowd away to their teenage years with reckless abandon. However, Fall Out Boy surprised everyone by dusting off some rarely-performed gems. As “XO” was broken out, the light rigging was lowered, creating a strobing effect as fire erupted out from the top. “Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do Today” sent longtime fans into a frenzy, adding a layer of thrilling unpredictability to the setlist. The band’s raw pop-punk spirit shone through these deeper cuts, reminding the audience why they fell in love with Fall Out Boy in the first place.

The rigging was brought up as the back curtain was once again pulled to reveal a large inflatable dog head which took up half the stage. The head was puppeteered by a production member – opening and closing its jaw singing as Fall Out Boy shifted gears seamlessly, showcasing their more reflective side with “Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy.” The song’s melancholic beauty resonated deeply before giving way to the introspective quietude of “Calm Before the Storm.” But just when the crowd was lulled into a state of serene contemplation, they exploded with the infectious energy of “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” – the audience roaring back to life with every word. This was followed by a string of fan favorites: “Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes,” and “Heaven, Iowa.” “Bang the Doldrums” kept the crowd bouncing with barely a moment to catch their breath.

The band’s playful energy reached its peak with the dizzying riffs of “Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet” as the curtain was once again pulled back to reveal a giant, waving octopus. Next was the anthemic fervor of “Fake Out.” This segment of the show perfectly highlighted Fall Out Boy’s versatility; their ability to weave together heartfelt ballads, headbanging anthems, and quirky surprises demonstrates why their live performances are consistently awe-inspiring.

The curtain returned back to its idling position as Fall Out Boy then demonstrated their dynamic range with a poignant segment led by Patrick Stump. Letting the audience know this was his first time playing this on stage, he displayed his inner child by playing the theme song of everyone’s favorite web slinging superhero. “Spidey and His Amazing Friends” hushed the stadium, Stump’s voice showcased pure emotion for his love of the tv show. The piano medley that followed was a stroke of genius; “What A Catch, Donnie” and “Just One Yesterday” resonated with heartfelt sincerity, while the unexpected taste of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” brought a touch of playful absurdity.

The band whipped the crowd back into a frenzy with the pulsating title track “So Much (For) Stardust.” This led into a uniquely captivating spoken word intro for ” Baby Annihilation,” which smoothly segued into a blistering rendition of Blur’s “Song 2.” The contrast between the spoken intro and the punk-rock explosion was exhilarating, proving Fall Out Boy can still surprise even the most dedicated fans.

Nearing the end of the show, the band amped up the energy once again with the crowd-pleasing anthems “Dance Dance” and “Hold Me Like A Grudge.” However, it was their Magic 8-Ball section that provided an unforgettable highlight. The first-ever full-band performance of “Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save the Scene and Stop Going to Shows)” and their cover of The Academy Is…’s “Slow Down” featuring William Beckett became an instant fan-favorite moment. It was chaotic, nostalgic, and everything Fall Out Boy fans dream of in a concert experience.

True to form, the iconic hits “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up),” “Thnks fr the Mmrs,” and “Centuries” brought the night to an epic close. Fall Out Boy’s showmanship was on full display, captivating the audience from the first song all the way to the heartfelt goodbyes of “Saturday.”

Fall Out Boy’s Madison Square Garden show was more than just a concert; it was a testament to their staying power and their willingness to explore the full breadth of their musical identity. This was a night of fist-pumping anthems, raw emotion, and delightful surprises – a perfect storm of everything that makes Fall Out Boy such a beloved force in the world of pop-punk.

Jimmy Eat World setlist

1. A Praise Chorus
2. Big Casino
3. Sweetness
4. Something Loud
5. Lucky Denver Mint
6. My Best Theory
7. All the Way (Stay)
8. For Me This Is Heaven
9. Let It Happen
10. Work
11. Hear You Me
12. Pain
13. Just Tonight…
14. Bleed American
15. The Middle

Fall Out Boy Setlist

1. Love From the Other Side
2. The Phoenix
3. Sugar, We’re Goin Down
4. Uma Thurman
5. XO (Tour debut)
6. Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do Today
7. Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy
8. Calm Before the Storm
9. This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race
10. Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes
11. Heaven, Iowa
12. Bang the Doldrums
13. Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet
14. Fake Out
15. Spidey and His Amazing Friends (Patrick Stump song) (Live Debut; Partial, Acoustic Medley)
16. What a Catch, Donnie (Partial, Piano Medley)
17. Just One Yesterday (with Daisy Grenade) (Piano Medley)
18. Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen cover) (Partial, Piano Medley)
19. So Much (for) Stardust
20. Baby Annihilation (With a “20 Dollar Nose Bleed” spoken word snippet)
21. Song 2 (Blur cover)
22. Dance, Dance
23. Hold Me Like a Grudge
24. Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying
25. Slow Down (The Academy Is… cover) (with William Beckett)
26. My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)
27. Thnks fr th Mmrs
28. Centuries
29. Saturday