On a perfect Friday night at Jacob’s Pavilion in Cleveland, “The Least Anticipated Album Tour,” featuring Militarie Gun, Four Year Strong, The Story So Far, and A Day to Remember, quickly became a night to remember for all in attendance.
First up to the stage were Militarie Gun. These guys know how to write a catchy tune, as confirmed by the entire front row’s non-stop head bopping. Singer Ian Shelton kept the energy on stage by playing with the microphone stand and doing impressive jumps throughout the set. Toward the end of their performance a few people in the crowd could be heard singing along. MG did a great job of getting the night started, and I encourage everyone to check them out.
Next up were Four Year Strong. The excitement of the crowd was quickly amped up, as they could be heard singing along for literally the entire performance. I can’t blame them, as this brand of pop punk is a lot of fun. As much as the crowd could be seen dancing and bouncing around, I think the band easily outdid them on stage. A good time was had by all, and I definitely recommend everyone get in on the fun and see these guys next time they are near you.
Third to take the stage were The Story So Far. The pop punk fun continues! Just like FYS before them, the band matched the crowd’s enthusiasm and a smile never left their singer’s face. During one of the early songs of the set, a giant boat made its presence known with its roaring horn as it slowly rode by. The band took it in stride and everyone shared a laugh. They are a lot of fun to see live, so be sure to check them whenever possible.
Now for the main event, A Day to Remember. Sadly for myself and the other photographers, we were told by security that we had to leave the venue once we were done photographing our allotted three songs (which turned out to be the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th songs of the set). The energy of the crowd shifted, and everyone was on pins and needles waiting for ADTR to begin. Once they did, the crowd erupted in screams, and the band quickly matched their enthusiasm. We were treated to a rare confetti cannon during the first song, which is always nice. The fun antics didn’t stop there, as a couple of songs later, we were graced with some smoke stacks and pyrotechnics! These guys bring such a fun energy to their metal-fueled live performance, and singer Jeremy McKinnon always makes sure to give a playful look or two to all the photographers (I love that he does this). As with the previous bands, the crowd could be heard singing along and now they were also moshing and crowd surfing. I am willing to bet they kept that up for the rest of the night. Though I was sad I couldn’t see the entire performance, I have no doubt they were absolutely amazing, and I cannot wait to see them live again. There are still plenty of dates left on this tour, so be sure not to miss it!
Pittsburgh Music Magazine 