Fall Out Boy (w/ PVRIS) Create Some Wonderful “Mmrs” for Fans at Leeds First Direct Arena [Photos]

Sat going nowhere fast in Leeds’infamous city centre Friday night traffic, there was absolutely no chance of making it to the First Direct Arena in time for tonight’s opener, American rapper nothing, nowhere. In fact, the way traffic was crawling at a snail’s pace, there was a danger of missing main support PVRIS as well.

Thankfully, though, this wasn’t the case, and as Lynn Gunn’s Massachusetts pop-rock band kicked off their set, there was an excitable air of anticipation around the FD Arena. Beginning with “I DON’T WANNA DO THIS ANYMORE” and through the pulsating “Deadweight,” the group’s cocktail of electronica, pop and rock cuts through the smoky, moody lighting to be eagerly soaked up by Yorkshire’s alternative rock fraternity.

Being the opening night of Fall Out Boy’s So Much For (Tour) Dust UK arena tour, the atmosphere was crackling as the house lights dimmed and the four band members took to the stage. Unfortunately, before the band had even played a note, a medical emergency in the front row brought a halt to proceedings along with an air of confusion. Thankfully, the affected fan was lifted out of the crowd, later recovering, and the band quickly got back to business.

Now, it’s been a while since the Patrick Stump-led band have been this way and as the gathered masses bounced along to hit single “Sugar We’re Going Down,” three songs in Fall Out Boy were here to deliver precisely what their fans had been missing. Plundering into their hit-laden back catalogue, it was nice to see the band rocking out again, having rediscovered guitars on their new album.

Awash with pyrotechnics and bassist Pete Wentz’s fire-breathing instrument, this may not have been the most over-the-top show visually, but Fall Out Boy certainly made sure of a rock show that went with a bang. That being said, there are enough pop-punk bangers in their armoury so as not to need to rely on too many gimmicks. Still, what rock fan doesn’t enjoy the sight of a guitar spitting flames out of it?

As for the music, for bands like Fall Out Boy, it’s all about the anthems, and this was a setlist full of them. New and old, who can argue with absolute monsters like “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” “Save Rock N’ Roll,” “Dance Dance,” and “Thnks fr th Mmrs”? Exactly.

Throwing in a few random snippets of “Crazy Train” and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the opening night of the tour might not have got off to the most ideal start, but by the end, Patrick Stump and Co. made sure this crowd left with plenty of wonderful “Mmrs.”

Fall Out Boy (w/ PVRIS) @ First Direct Arena (Leeds, UK) on October 27th, 2023

32 photos