On Saturday night, a wave of nostalgia rushed through the halls of the Freeman Coliseum as Yellowcard, New Found Glory, and Plain White T's brought the Up Up Down Down Tour to San Antonio! Fans of all ages arrived early to fill up the venue long before the first band took the stage, eager to relive the songs that were the soundtrack to their golden years, road trips, and countless memories over the years.
For me, it was like a high school reunion. I bumped into a few old friends from my hometown who I hadn’t seen in years, and looking around I realized I wasn’t the only one reconnecting with familiar faces. People reminisced about the first time they heard these bands, whether it was on MTV or festivals like Vans Warped Tour and When We Were Young, while parents beamed with joy when introducing their kids to the music that helped define their adolescent years. The energy in the building was significant. The evening seemed less like a concert and more like a generational passing of the torch of pop punk.
The Plain White T's kicked off the night on a high note, playing a mix of songs from longtime fan favorites like "Hate (I Really Don't Like You)" to their newest material, such as "Feeling (More Like) Myself" and "Would You Even." Throughout the set guitarist Tim G. Lopez and singer Tom Higgenson thanked everyone for arriving early and hyped up the crowd for the bands performing after. They also cheered on the San Antonio Spurs, commenting how they felt like they were playing on holy ground; got the whole crowd to do the wave; and encouraged mosh pits for their slow songs such as "Rhythm of Love" and "Hey There, Delilah." Tom Higgenson grinned and pointed at the pit that opened up mid-song as we all laughed and sang together.
They ended with "Our Time Is Now," which felt like the perfect finale to a set filled with timeless classics. It was so good to see the Plain White T's live again; the last time I saw them was in 2007 at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and they still had the same energy and confidence, like they hadn't changed over time.
This was my first time catching New Found Glory live in concert, and they definitely turned it up a notch. They dived right in with a high-energy performance of "A Love Song" with bassist Ian Grushka and Four Year Strong's guitarist Dan O'Connor jumping up and down and throwing kicks, singer Jordan Pundik running across speakers set up in front of the stage and hyping up the crowd to sing louder, and drummer Cyrus Bolooki and Real Friend's guitarist David Knox keeping the groove as they performed on a lifted platform.
It felt like the early 2000s never ended as they performed classics such as "Understatement," "Hit or Miss," and "Head-On Collision." Mosh pits opened up on each side of the general admission area as they led into another heavy hitter, "All Downhill From Here." This was the first New Found Glory track I've ever heard, and I still remember staying up late to catch the music video on MTV After Hours when I was younger. Hearing it performed live felt like a full-circle moment.
They announced that they recently released a new album called Listen Up a few months ago and thanked everyone who bought it, ripped it off Limewire and burnt it on CD for their buddy, or put it on their iPod, and that they are going to play a song from it called "Laugh It Off." This song hit like an anthem to a new generation of punk rock and New Found Glory, and it was met with loud cheers and rock finger signs in the air.
Some of the loudest pops from their set were when they performed "Beer and Blood Stains," with Ian Grushka taking his shirt off, and a pop-punk version of the Little Mermaid's "Part of Your World," sending the room into an all-out sing-along party. Jordan laughed and said that he never expected to see a mosh pit to a Disney song before. Shortly after a couple of songs, the band shared a heartfelt message about their guitarist Chad Gilbert, who is currently battling a rare form of stage 4 adrenal cancer and couldn't be there tonight. Jordan said that he appreciated everyone who asked about how Chad was doing online and at shows.
Their set concluded with two upbeat songs, with "Sincerely Me" setting up the momentum for the long-awaited "My Friends Over You," which was met with an outpour of cheers, phones up in the air, and everyone at the Freeman Coliseum singing together. The band's chemistry with each other shined throughout their set, and it was awesome seeing how their music still holds a special place in people's lives as the years go by.
Before Yellowcard took the stage, the Ghostbusters' theme song played over the speakers, and to our surprise, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man stormed the stage, chased by a Ghostbusters member with a T-shirt cannon, who missed the target completely—sending merch into the crowd. Little did we know that this nod to the 80s would become an overall theme for the night, with Yellowcard referencing the Super Nintendo and movies such as The Karate Kid, Back to the Future, and Top Gun.
The members of Yellowcard joined together one by one on stage to the "Top Gun Anthem," which took us all on board for a fun first stop down memory lane before they jumped into "Better Days" and "Way Away." Undoubtedly, they had a clear mission in mind: to celebrate music together and make sure that there is nothing but joy and happiness walking out of the room that night.
Ryan Key shared how he's been looking forward to taking this tour on the road with some of his closest friends; how important it was for them to reconnect and celebrate the formative years as a band; and that everyone put in a lot of time and energy to bring the biggest and best Yellowcard show we've ever seen.
Throughout the night, Yellowcard performed a series of new songs from their Better Days album, along with many fan favorites from Ocean Avenue and Lights and Sound, for a total of 18 songs. Some of the loudest and most memorable songs before they switched stage scenes were from "Love Letters Lost" and "You Broke Me Too," which had the crowd losing their minds.
Violinist Sean Mackin stood out with his animated energy while hyping up the crowd and signature violin work that has set the band apart from many others in the pop-punk genre. Ryan Mendez, Josh Portman, and Jimmy Brunkvist carried the rhythm and added depth and texture to every song. Yellowcard has been such a significant staple in the music scene for 29 years, which is very difficult to achieve as a band, and it’s incredible to see the band going harder than ever in 2026.
Halfway into the set, the lights dimmed and the stage switched over to an intimate bedroom setting with two couches, movie posters, and a liter of Mountain Dew that sat next to an end table and lamp. The thousands in attendance watched with anticipation as the members took a seat with their respected instruments, and Sean Mackin took center stage with his violin. When they got to "Big Blue Eyes," Ryan dedicated the song to all the dads in the house and shared that he wrote it for his son. This softer tone of the part of the performance was a great way for us to recharge for the rest of what was to come, and halfway through "Empty Apartment" the stage switched back to a full stage.
One of my favorite and most emotional parts of the night was before Yellowcard performed "Lift A Sail." Ryan Key mentioned that this is one of his favorite songs and that he wrote the words during a time when he needed it more than ever as a reminder that he is strong enough to make it to the other side and be there for the people that he loves. He expressed that if speaking his truth helped even one person that night to make a change, that would mean the world to him.
"I want to be a better dad. I want to be a better husband. I want to be a better friend. I want to be better for you all every time I come up here. So if you want someone to talk to, don't wait. Talk to someone."
The last three songs were exactly what longtime fans hoped for. "Only One" unified thousands of voices together, and couples held each other close, swaying back and forth to the beat of the song. "Bedroom Posters" picked up the momentum, and then "Ocean Avenue" took the experience at the Freeman Coliseum to another level as the perfect nightcap for a pop-punk-filled evening.
This show will be one that we will all remember for decades to come. Yellowcard, New Found Glory, and Plain White T's gave their two hundred percent and then some, and you can tell that they are genuinely grateful to perform in front of everyone after all these years. It felt like a celebration for an era of music that still holds true to this day, with San Antonio singing along to every word.
I highly recommend checking out New Found Glory's Listen Up album and Yellowcard's Better Days album if you haven't already and getting a taste of pop punk nostalgia at any of their upcoming tour dates!
