After the postponement of not just one, but two album anniversary tours, The Wonder Years came out swinging on Sunday night in Baltimore. For the first time in two years, one of the most respected pop punk names in the scene were finally on tour.
The Wonder Years released several albums in the late 2000s/ early 2010s, two of which gained rapid popularity amongst the pop punk community. The first of the two albums released in 2010 was The Upsides, centering heavily around the feelings of being lost and lonely in the world. This album ironically made people feel less alone – because so many were experiencing the same changes and challenges within their own lives. The Upsides struck a chord in the hearts of fans, because it basically cried out this beautiful message of “not letting sadness win”. Dan “Soupy” Campbell, vocalist and lyricist of The Wonder Years was personal and honest in The Upsides, making it so successful in the scene, because listeners could hear themselves within these songs. Even now at 21 years old I find myself going back to this record and relating to the lyrics, and I’m sure this album will forever hold that place in my heart. There’s something about the rawness of Campbell’s lyrics that provides open arms to those who feel alone in the world.
Closely following the release of The Upsides, The Wonder Years released the second piece of their record trilogy, Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing. Suburbia also centered around the same themes as The Upsides, exploring loneliness and fear. Suburbia was the home of The Wonder Years’ most successful song, “Came Out Swinging”. Together, these two albums brought The Wonder Years to life amongst Pop Punk fans.
On March 13th at Rams Head Live, fans of all ages gathered to celebrate the anniversary of these two staple records, making a full house and a sold out show. Starting with “Came Out Swinging”, the entire venue was filled with the harmonizing of fans, crowd surfers, and one hell of a pit. The Wonder Years continued to play the entirety of Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing, maintaining the same energy throughout the entire set. Halfway through the album, Campbell took a moment to thank everyone for their love and support for the album, followed by explaining its age: “This album is over a decade old – which means we’re old… and some of you are probably old too.” However, The Wonder Years are timeless. There is a home within their songs for anyone to find solace in, regardless of age – which is one of the things that sets The Wonder Years apart from so many others.
Before playing the last song on the record, “And Now I’m Nothing”, Campbell announced that they weren’t done yet. After a brief intermission, the band gathered back on stage, playing The Upsides in its entirety. Opening bands Spanish Love Songs and Save Face joined The Wonder Years on stage during the last song of the album, “All My Friends Are In Bar Bands”, and for the encore, they chose to play “Brakeless”, and my two favorites, “My Life as Rob Gordon” and “Living Room Song”, featuring the bands beloved mascot, Hank the Pigeon. And of course, they didn’t forget to take a stage selfie at the end of their set, making one big family photo by capturing the crowd behind them.
Overall, The Wonder Years never fails to deliver a flawless and heartfelt performance, and after two years since their last tour, they truly gave it their all. Baltimore fans were ecstatic to see the band’s return, and we cannot wait to see them again.
All photos copyright and courtesy of Ariel Mitchell.
