A Day to Remember Like Today
Article written by and photos by Alec Moody
A Day To Remember's latest tour, "The Least Anticipated Album Tour 2024," was an incredible showcase of pop-punk energy and nostalgia, featuring a killer lineup of opening acts that set the stage for an unforgettable evening. The first openers, Scowl, delivered an electrifying performance, it was my first time seeing them live, and I was semi-familiar with them due to SLC’s Hardcore scene and previously seeing fellow photographer ‘Adam Degross” stellar photos from one of their previous performances in Utah. Kat Moss kicked off their set with "Retail Hell" and "Sold Out," before closing with a fan favorite "Opening Night." Their kick-ass and energetic set pumped up the audience, creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation for the bands to follow. If you haven’t taken the time to listen to Scowl and/or Moss’s incredible scream, I highly suggest you go listen to “Shot Down” as an introduction to just how killer this group is.
The second opener, Four Year Strong, captivated the audience from the first chord of "Brain Pain." The crowd was fully engaged, singing along and head bobbing to each song. Their performance included their hit "daddy of mine," which had the people at the barricade shouting the words back at the band and head-banging. They closed their set with "Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)," a classic song off of their 2010 album “Enemy Of The World” that resonated with both longtime fans and newcomers alike, leaving the audience craving more. I’d suggest listening to “Uncooked” to get an idea on how sick this pop-punk / easycore group sounds.
The third opener, The Story So Far, took the stage with lead singer Parker Cannon greeting the fans. His casual yet stylish ensemble of jeans and a Palace X Umbro designer t-shirt instantly caught my eye. The band wasted no time, diving straight into their set with "Big Blind." The energy continued to build, as they transitioned to "All This Time" which quickly ignited into heavy moshing at the front of the barricade. Despite the security team's efforts to keep everyone in order, the raw energy was unstoppable. They finished their set with "Nerve," a perfect pop-punk finale that left the audience shouting and clapping for more. I was not as familiar with The Story So Far, but as I was driving up to the show I shuffled around their latest album “I Want To Disappear” and would suggest listening to that whole album because there wasn’t a single skip.
As A Day To Remember prepared to take the stage, the anticipation was palpable. They launched into their performance with an explosive rendition of "Sticks and Bricks," filling the sky with colored confetti as Jeremy McKinnon belted out the opening lyrics. Being in the photo pit, I had the incredible experience of capturing Jeremy's dynamic stage presence, with numerous moments where he made direct eye contact and actively engaged with my camera. The whole band played an extensive setlist, spanning from their classic album "What Separates Me From You" to their latest release "For Those Who Have Heart." A standout moment was their cover of Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," originally performed in 2010, which added a nostalgic touch to the night for me. Throughout the set there were multiple times when people were being crowdsurfed and at one point, people began crowdsurfing on top of the crowdsurfers which further ignited the band and in turn, the crowd with even more energy.
I have personally dreamt of seeing ADTR in concert since I first heard “Out Of Time” back when I was in 6th grade. This group was been one of my literal anchors throughout all of my conscious life and they have been a pivotal band in forming me as a person and my musical interests. Towards the end of their set, I sat my camera down, closed my eyes, and just let all my emotions wash over me, feeling tears run down my face. I couldn’t help but think back to me as a twelve-year-old kid who needed this band, at such a core time of my life. This concert was everything I had ever dreamt it to be, a perfect blend of high energy, emotional connection, and unforgettable music.
