Fall Out Boy•Bring Me The Horizon•Royal & the Serpent• Daisy Grenade•July 7, 2023• USANA Amphitheatre
Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson
On a warm summer evening, the USANA Amphitheater came alive with an electrifying performance by Fall Out Boy. The concert was part of their “So Much For (Tour) Dust” tour in support of their newly released album So Much For (Star) Dust. Supported by their incredible lineup of opening bands Bring Me The Horizon, Royal & the Serpent, and Daisy Grenade, this concert was a celebration of music and a testament to the band’s enduring legacy.
Daisy Grenade
Kicking off the evening was Daisy Grenade, a promising up-and-coming band. They set the tone with their infectious energy and catchy melodies. Their vibrant stage presence and spirited performance instantly captivated the audience. Creating a lively atmosphere that set the stage for the rest of the night. The band’s blend of alternative rock and punk resonated with the crowd, leaving them eager for what was to come.
Royal & the Serpent
Royal & the Serpent followed suit, showcasing their unique sound and undeniable talent. With a fusion of alternative and indie rock, their set was a captivating mix of melodic hooks and powerful vocals. Lead singer Ryan Santiago’s vocals and the band’s instrumentals created a dynamic performance. The audience was hooked, and enjoyed hearing the band play their songs like “Overwhelmed” and “Junkie.” Royal & the Serpent left a lasting impression, leaving the crowd eagerly anticipating the remaining performances.
Bring Me The Horizon
With the reaction Bring Me The Horizon received from the crowd, you would have guessed they were headlining the show. The British rock band immediately captured the crowd’s attention, as lead singer Oli Sykes proved he was well suited for the stage. He seemed quite comfortable in front of an audience and did not hold back when it came to interacting with their fans. At one point he left the stage to walk around the venue. As he made his way from the stage to the back of the lawn, he embraced fans all along the way. The continuous hugs and high-fives still did not distract him from his performance. It was obvious that many in the crowd had arrived just for them.
Bring Me the Horizon, played an 11-song Set that blended metal, rock, and pop rock. They began with a recently released single, “AmEN!” They played a few other singles released within the last few years, including “sTraNgeRs” and “LosT.” The crowd enjoyed their newer songs, but still favored the older ones like “Happy Song,” “Throne,” and “Can You Feel My Heart.” When Sykes would begin screaming during one of their more metal songs, the crowd would react and a mosh would begin. A few people made it over the barricade and the security guards helped direct them back into the pit. They were very entertaining and left the crowd ready for Fall Out Boy.
Fall Out Boy
After the first three bands, the energy at USANA was at an all-time high. Fans were eager for Fall Out Boy to take the stage. The band’s newly released cover of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire” played over the speakers. The crowd sang along with their version which includes some updated lyrics and has been called a sequel to the original. I have to admit I was disappointed to hear it playing. That meant the band would not be performing it live for us. I can’t complain though, by the end of the night Fall Out Boy had performed an impressive 28-song set.
Fall Out Boy started their set with a bang, quite literally. An impressive pyrotechnic display lit up the stage as the band played the first song “Love From The Other Side.” Bassist Pete Wentz contributed to the theatrics with his flamethrower bass guitar. He would occasionally illuminate the stage with a steady stream of fire during their second song “Phoenix.” Lead singer Patrick Stump sounded just as I remember him 20 years ago when I was introduced to their music. I was surprised to hear them start “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” next. I expected them to hold on to that one and play it near the end of the night. It’s always fun when a band plays one of their big hits early in the show.
The pyrotechnics that continued throughout the night were just one small part of the theatrical display. There were also bubbles, inflated balls being thrown out to the crowd from somewhere offstage, and a giant blow-up dog head that would move its mouth as if singing along. The stage setup also added to the visually impressive performance. In contrast to the over-the-top display, the band members came across as quite casual and laid back. At one point, while expressing how happy they were to be there, they commented on the highs and lows of their musical career.
Fall Out Boy mentioned that during the peak of their career, they enjoyed playing at the arena here in Utah. They said years later they returned to perform at Saltair. They commented on how they still loved Saltair, but the crowd was noticeably smaller than previous performances. Fall Out Boy was happy to be at USANA in front of a massive audience made up of some of the most enthusiastic fans.
The venue was packed and the lawn was covered with concertgoers. Many were there for the nostalgia, excited to see one of the biggest bands from their younger years. Fall Out Boy has been experiencing quite a comeback lately, and with that has gained a large following of young new fans. I was surprised and impressed to see the level of dedication from these Fall Out Boy fans. Whenever a band goes on tour in support of a recently released album, I usually witness a significant decrease in enthusiasm and crowd participation any time they perform one of the new songs. It can sometimes take people a while to come around to the new stuff.
This was not the case with these Fall Out Boy fans. Although their new album only came out a few months ago, it seemed like the majority of the crowd already knew every word. They sang along making each new song feel just like their older, familiar, well-loved music.
Fall Out Boy made sure to express their gratitude for their fans and even highlighted a couple of girls standing in front of the barricade. They wanted everyone in the crowd to see the fan who was sporting a pretty sweet fake mustache and asked a videographer to get them on the Jumbotron. I imagine that was a pretty memorable moment for them. There was one other band and fan interaction that may have been just as memorable but in a different way.
The band stopped in the middle of a song when Pete Wentz noticed someone near the front pass out. They paused the show to make sure this person was taken care of. Something else that stood out to me about the Fall Out Boy crowd, was their willingness to stay until the very end. It’s not uncommon to see large numbers of people leaving a concert early, especially at a venue, like USANA, where some fans are willing to sacrifice hearing the last few songs to avoid the chaos of the post-concert parking lot. I was impressed to see very few people leave early.
Fall Out Boy did an excellent job curating a set full of old and new music. “Fake Out” and “Hold Me Like a Grudge” were a couple of standouts from their new album. The songs from their first two albums like “Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy” “Calm Before the Storm” and “Dance, Dance” brought me back to my high school days. Of course, they have released plenty of hits between then and now, and the crowd loved hearing “The Phoenix” “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” and “Uma Thurman.” they also included a few covers, “Hold the Line,” by Toto, “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey, and “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osborne.
They ended their night with some fan, favorite songs, “Thnks fr th Mmrs,“ “Centuries” and “Saturday.” Fall Out Boy did an exceptional job giving their fans an unforgettable show. Their recent increase in popularity is well deserved and a direct result of their continued hard work. I am happy to see their current success and look forward to what they do next.
