From the grassy field of Download’s Donington Park to the bright lights and asphalt of Las Vegas, the cleverly titled ‘Days Of Fall Out Past’ show is now fully established as the perfect festival headlining statement from FOB, effortlessly showcasing a back catalogue that has influenced almost every artist on the When We Were Young lineup.
As they emerge onstage to the opening riff of ‘Chicago Is So Two Years Ago’, thousands of amassed fans chant along with the acapella post-chorus as Patrick Stump, fresh from multiple guest appearances during the day, guides us on a trip down memory lane, swiftly moving between the band’s easily recognisable eras.
“Keep making weird shit”, Pete Wentz encourages ahead of a bouncy and vibrant ‘Bang The Doldrums’, a now staple of their set and a firm fan favourite. And although the set pieces are well known thanks to their hard summer of festival appearances, FOB still have a couple of surprises in store, bringing out old tourmate Wiz Khalifa for a cover of ‘See You Again’ before rolling into deeper cut ‘G.I.N.A.S.F.S.’
Newer cuts from recent release ‘So Much (For) Stardust’ are greeted with similar levels of jubilation, with Andy Hurley and Joe Trohman joining in the four man closing vocal harmonies of that album’s powerul title track as the crowd sway in unison.
As Pete ascends to the heavens via a pile of balloons for the traditional ‘Saturday’ closer, the message is clear; Fall Out Boy are a band more than capable of celebrating their legacy while still pushing themselves into new and interesting places. Long may they ‘keep making weird shit’.