The Up Up Down Down Tour: Yellowcard and New Found Glory - Las Vegas

If I had a child, the first time I saw New Found Glory and then fast-forwarded to the last time I saw them, that child would be old enough to drive me to the show. Yet if you looked at Jordan Pundik, Cyrus Bolooki, and Ian Grushka on stage, you’d swear time had stood still.

Appearing almost ageless, New Found Glory delivered a set that felt like a direct trip back in time to the soundtrack of an entire generation. In just sixty minutes, the band managed to cram in nearly everything I could have hoped to hear. They may have been the only band on the tour with a two-page setlist sitting at their feet, but every song felt earned.

Leaning heavily into Sticks and Stones, the band wasted no time turning the crowd into a frenzy. By the end of the first song, security had already learned they would need reinforcements as fans poured over the barricade. While it may have been Yellowcard's headlining night, the hour belonged entirely to New Found Glory.

New Found Glory. Photos by Mike Thomas.

The energy in the room reflected the band's legacy. Years of relentless touring and consistency had clearly paid off, as fans packed the venue early and loudly made their presence known. The only noticeable absence was guitarist Chad Gilbert, who continues to recover at home from ongoing health challenges. Filling the role was easycore veteran Dan O'Connor of Four Year Strong, whose performance ensured the band's trademark energy never missed a beat.

Over the course of fifteen songs in sixty minutes, New Found Glory delivered a relentless performance that left little room to catch a breath. By the end of the set, even drummer Cyrus Bolooki seemed winded as he traded jokes and banter with Jordan between songs. Somehow, despite hearing fifteen tracks in an hour, I was still left wishing the set had been twice as long.

As the night came to a close, one thing felt certain: New Found Glory remains one of pop-punk's most reliable live acts. With the blue-collar touring work ethic and the momentum of their latest record, Listen Up!, behind them, it wouldn't be surprising to see the band back on the road soon, taking another well-deserved victory lap.

Yellowcard. Photos by Mike Thomas.

It’s strange to say goodbye to friends, only to watch them come back to life and thrive beyond what many would consider their “glory days.” Yellowcard has been a constant presence throughout my own journey, accompanying me through both highs and lows. In many ways, they are the reason I fell in love with photographing live music. After photographing the band in October 2016, I discovered a passion that I have pursued ever since.

I also remember standing in front of the stage in March 2017, fighting back tears as I watched what was then one of the final performances of a band I never expected to see together again. Fast-forward several years, add a little Riot Fest magic, and something remarkable was reborn.

On May 30 in Las Vegas, that rebirth was on full display. Not only did I get to watch a band I thought I had lost forever, but I did so surrounded by nearly four times as many friends as the last time I saw them. Performing to a near-capacity crowd of just under four thousand fans at BleuLive Theater, Yellowcard proved that this reunion is fueled by far more than nostalgia.

While longtime fans were eager to revisit the classics, much of the excitement was driven by Better Days, the band's excellent 2025 release. Over the course of a ninety-minute set, Yellowcard delivered with the same energy and enthusiasm that defined their earlier years. A well-balanced setlist featuring fan favourites from "Ocean Avenue" alongside standout cuts from Better Days left little room for disappointment.

From the opening notes to the final encore, the band never wavered. The Las Vegas crowd responded in kind, creating an atmosphere that felt both celebratory and deeply appreciative. By the end of the night, fans left having witnessed what could reasonably be described as a flawless performance.

With no formal plans currently announced, it remains unclear where Yellowcard's next chapter will lead. If the spirit of Better Days is any indication, however, the future looks bright—and Yellowcard appears to be riding a wave of momentum that shows no signs of slowing down.