Photo Gallery & Review: A Bittersweet Farewell to Yellowcard in Seattle
Photos and Review by Rachael Dowd
For the last time in their career, Yellowcard returned to rainy Seattle, Washington for one last sold out gig that Yellowcard fans will always remember. Kicking off the night was indie rock band Dryjacket (Hopeless Records), who are gearing up to release their new album, For Posterity, on January 13th. Playing a setlist of well-written and high energy tracks, they grabbed the attention of many in the crowd, showing a true sense of artistry with every song they performed.
Hailing all the way from Stockholm, alternative rock band Like Torches put on a very pop punk performance, each member bringing an intense amount of energy that captivated the crowd from start to finish. Taking valuable moments in between songs to spit witty banter and talk to the crowd, Like Torches were able to put their personalities behind their band, receiving a warm response from the sold out crowd of people who most likely hadn’t heard of them prior to the show.
For the headlining act, however, they set out to make one unforgettable night and did exactly that. Opening up their set with “Believe,” a track off of Ocean Avenue about the first responders of the attack on the World Trade Center, a burst of energy erupted off of the crowd the second the drums hit at the beginning of the song, the bittersweet emotions of saying farewell to this band after twenty years seeming to wash away as the crowd sang over vocalist Ryan Key.
Following “Believe,” Yellowcard played other fan favorites including “Way Away” and “Lights and Sound,” kicking the night off on a high note with crowd surfers floating over the audience and a mosh pit opening up right in the middle of the floor.
Whether old or new, Yellowcard fans were treated to a 24 song set. The band played tracks from almost every album in their discography including “Breathing,” which resulted in the punk rockers in the mosh pit to break out into an Irish jig as Sean Mackin took control of the chorus with his violin, making the song a definite highlight for many in the crowd.
For Mackin, this was a very special show for him as it was his hometown stop on the tour. Having moved to Snoqualmie, Washington just eight years ago, he took the time to announce that his mom, his wife, his friends, and even the neighbors on his street were all in attendance that night. His mom even took the time to go through the crowd over the course of the night, thanking everyone for coming and supporting Yellowcard over the years.
Closing out the night with “Holly Wood Died,” off of Lights and Sounds, Yellowcard returned to the stage for their encore, performing two songs that are held close to the hearts of all Yellowcard fans.
Just taking a look around the venue as Yellowcard began to play “Only One” for the last time in Seattle, fans were all joined around and singing along– their voices bouncing off the walls of The Showbox, creating a harmonizing sound that I will never forget.
Of course, Yellowcard closed out the night with their most popular song, “Ocean Avenue.” As a track that everyone can relate back to a specific moment in their lives, everyone in the venue seemed to have a resurgence of energy, determined to give Yellowcard a memorable final send off.
Fans were crowd surfing, some were crying, but most of all, everyone was soaking in the moment, knowing that this was the last time they would be seeing Yellowcard perform ever again.
As the band took their final bow and left the stage, there was an atmosphere amongst everyone I will never begin to understand. Some seemed sad while others exhilarated, but as everyone made their way towards the exit, it was undeniable that every single person will never forget the night they just had and will hold Yellowcard in their hearts forever.
It’s always hard to say goodbye, especially to a band that has meant so much to us and the music industry over the years. While band breakups are sometimes ugly, Yellowcard managed to make the most of the end, comforting fans in the best way possible by putting on an unforgettable show that will stand the test of time.
To everyone involved in Yellowcard’s success over the years — every tour manager, tech, bus driver, producer, fan, and everyone in between, but most of all, to the musicians who believed starting a rock band with a back flipping violinist was a good idea — thank you for all of the memories and years of music, it will never be forgotten.
