Philly’s own The Wonder Years brought The Greatest Generation‘s 10-year anniversary tour to Charlotte NC Friday, Sep. 15th. Since their inception in 2005 The Wonder Years have been a valued group to the pop-punk scene. Tagging along were a group of high-energy veterans and newcomers who bought their own flare to the scene.
Action/Adventure have been playing collectively together since 2014. The pop-punk group from Chicago strives to make the genre an inclusive space for all. Vocalist Blake Evaristo and guitarist/vocalist Brompton Jackson blend beautifully together on stage. With bassist Manny Avila, guitarist Oren Trace, and Adrian Brown holding down the drums. The team hits all the right spots in my pop-punk heart. Playing tunes from their 2022 release Imposter Syndrome, A/A got the night started off right bringing #POPPUNKinColor to Charlotte.
As the lights dimmed and then began revealing the stage New Jersey natives Sweet Pill made their presence known immediately. Vocalist Zayna Youssef exploded gracefully on stage, and even with no mic in her hand you could hear her projecting at the back of the house. The talented hands of Jayce Williams and Sean McCall layered technical guitars over the rock-solid rhythm of drummer Chris Kearney and bassist Ryan Cullen. A perfect mix of moody, half-paced groove and foot-moving powerful jams from the album Where The Heart Is, Sweet Pill has something for everyone.
Anxious hails from Connecticut and took the energy in the room up a notch with jams off of their 2022 album Little Green House. Vocalists Grady Allen, Jonny Camner, and Tommy Harte kept that same energy, guitars spinning and jumping. They locked you in and you could not look away for fear of missing something. Definitely set the crowd up for the climax of the night.
The stage was set, the lights dimmed, and a hushed excitement filled the air as I, along with an amped-up devoted crowd, eagerly awaited the arrival of The Wonder Years. This was no ordinary evening; it was an evening of celebrating 10 years of The Greatest Generation. An album that is heartfelt and emotionally charged and captures the essence of growing up, facing challenges, and reflecting on life’s trials and tribulations. For fans of the band, this was more than just a concert; it was a chance to relive an album that had touched their lives in profound ways.
Oh so slowly the lights began to illuminate the stage and the crowd erupted with anticipation. Everything on stage was lit in a red/orange color palette paying homage to the album’s very own colors. Bathing the members of the band in warm tones. Giving way to the atmospherical tone of each musical selection. As Dan Campbell emerged from the darkness and took his place the crowd was at his whim. The Wonder Years have a presence that is just something to behold. Dan “Soupy” Campbell’s vocal style grabs you and won’t let you go. You hang on to every word layering magically with vocalist/guitarist Matt Brasch and Casey Cavaliere. Building onto bassist Josh Martin, keyboardist Nick Steinborn, and drummer Mike Kennedy’s rhythmic collaborations. The crowd was taken on a journey as each song just flowed into one another.
As the final notes of “I Just Want to Sell Out My Funeral” rang out, the audience erupted into applause and cheers, a testament to the album’s enduring significance in their lives. The first set was at an end. The Wonder Years took a small break before coming back to give the fans an additional second set of songs. As stated previously by Dan “We’re not out of gas yet!” The Wonder Years powered into another set containing fav favorites “Oldest Daughter”, “Low Tide”, and “Cardinal”. Closing out the night with “Came Out Swinging”! The Wonder Years have yet again proven they are a force to be reckoned with and are here to stay! Make sure to catch them on one of the remaining dates on the tour.
