A Day To Remember and Yellowcard Receive Huge Pop in Home State Capital

Photos and Article by Preston Hooks

pop (noun) — the term used in professional wrestling to describe a massive and instant crowd reaction, typically in response to a major move, surprise appearance, or emotional homecoming.

From Ocala and Jacksonville to Florida’s capital city, A Day To Remember and Yellowcard blew the roof off the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee. It was a night that meant something; not just for fans of the bands, but for the city itself.

For years, Tallahassee’s metal and rock fans have been skipped over by tour after tour. Thats been for a dozen valid reasons on the artists’ end. In that gap, the local scene has fought to survive, often watching its most passionate workers and fans head to other cities just to stay connected to the music they love. That’s why the night feels like a turning point. It wasn’t just another stop on the Maximum Fun Tour, it was a statement. Proof that Tallahassee will show up for heavy music.

After two killer openers in The Wonder Years and Dinosaur Pile-Up, Yellowcard hit the stage like a storm rolling in. What had been a quietly hushed crowd instantly came to life. Behind them, massive light banks flooded the stage in bold, solid color: searing reds, and golden ambers that painted every song with its own mood. It was one of the most striking and well-designed lighting setups I’ve seen, perfectly framing a setlist packed with the anthems that have defined countless Florida summers. And of course, the cherry on top was “Ocean Avenue.” There’s a reason it’s been their biggest hit for so long, and live it still carries that unbeatable, cream of the crop energy.

On to the top dawgs. I am not going to lie even a little bit. Tears ran down my face for a good chunk of A Day To Remember’s set. Overwhelming happiness is the only way to describe it. It was that feeling you get when you laugh so hard you cry. They came out swinging with “The Downfall of Us All” and never eased up. The set was loaded with favorites from across their entire catalog, from Homesick all the way to Big Ole Vol. 1.

The energy was unreal and ADTR’s production pushed everything into overdrive. Confetti cannons. CO2 blasts. Toilet paper. Dozens of rolls flying across the arena at once. It was clear that everyone in the building, from the fans on the floor to the guys on stage, knew exactly what kind of night this was supposed to be. Twenty years after playing a little bar on the strip, A Day To Remember just headlined the arena in the capital of their home state.

I can’t imagine two bands more perfect to share this moment. A Day To Remember with their roots just down the road in Ocala and Yellowcard hailing from Jacksonville. Two Florida powerhouses reclaiming the capital of their home state, side by side.

A Day To Remember and Yellowcard now head to Orlando this weekend for the 30th anniversary of Warped Tour.