Fall Out Boy is currently headlining an arena tour, and I had the pleasure of attending their concert in Sacramento, California, on March 3. The rock band embarked on a world tour in 2023 to promote their newest album So Much (for) Stardust. The current U.S. tour is called So Much For (2our) Dust, as it is the follow-up to last year’s So Much For (Tour) Dust. The rock band is accompanied by Daisy Grenade, The Maine, and Jimmy Eat World. Much like Fall Out Boy’s setlist, the openers reflect a blend of new and older rock and pop-punk music. If you’re curious what a Fall Out Boy show is like in the 2020s, let me take you through the experience.

Daisy Grenade was the first opener, and they were explosive. It can be difficult to be the first band of the night, but they owned that stage. Dani Nigro and Keaton Whittaker are powerful vocalists and energetic performers. They had the crowd standing, singing, and dancing. With skirts on and pink lights behind them, they belted out their emotionally-charged hits. Daisy Grenade made sure everyone in the arena knew how hard girls can rock. Their setlist consisted of 6 songs, including a cover of Nirvana’s “Polly”, and the bubble-grunge band brought a new life and energy to the iconic '90s song. The duo jumped around the stage, headbanged, and hyped up the crowd. At the end of their set, I found myself thinking that I look forward to seeing them headline an arena one day. Their stage presence and ability to engage an audience is going to take them far. They’re on tour with Fall Out Boy through March 13, and they’ll be at all of the Sad Summer Fest dates starting in July.

Before getting into The Maine’s set, I would like to provide a warning for anyone with light sensitivity issues. Their set features a lot of bright, flashing lights. The visuals can be stunning, but please know to expect that (primarily during the first and last songs) in case it is a concern for you. Now onto their performance. The Maine brought a poppier vibe. Their set was bright toned and had the audience bouncing around on their feet. They played their hits like “blame” and “Loved You A Little”, and it was a really fun time! They invited two audience members on stage at different points. One member was brought up to dance, and the other was brought up to sing a chorus. It was entertaining to see how enthusiastically the band welcomed these fans on stage, and there was a loving energy in the arena as the crowd cheered them on. Everyone loves a good fan interaction moment, and The Maine definitely know how to engage their audience. They put on a great performance that set an upbeat mood for the night. The Maine are on tour with Fall Out Boy through March 16, and they will be co-headlining Sad Summer Fest this July and August.

Jimmy Eat World was the third and final opening act. Their set was everything a fan could hope for. They performed several hits from their highly beloved 2001 album Bleed American, including “Sweetness”, “Bleed American”, and “The Middle”. They also incorporated newer songs, like “All the Way (Stay)” from their 2019 album Surviving. Their set was energetic and had fans rocking out. They started and ended with their more uptempo songs, and they had a slower section to mellow out in the middle of the set. Their ability to blend their hits and styles from their over 30-year-long career makes it obvious why this band is still thriving in concerts with modern audiences. Even if you don’t know every word or every song, they are still a joy to watch. The band clearly still has a love of their craft and a respect for their audience. They put on a beautiful show and were excellent hype men for the main act. Plus, doesn’t every 2000s kid want to jump around screaming the lyrics to “The Middle”? This band knows how to make you feel not alone, and their set was a lovely collective experience. Jimmy Eat World will be at every date this tour, so have fun watching them if you attend So Much For (2our) Dust!

Now, onto the main act. Fall Out Boy absolutely rocked the house. From their stage theatrics to their setlist, this concert had something for everyone. Their stage setup changes throughout the show -- At one point, the stage featured a desert scene with a snail and bunny on stage dancing. At another point, they had bubbles and a large puppet of the dog from the cover of their album So Much (for) Stardust. They also had a ton of pyrotechnics, including fire shooting out from Pete Wentz’s bass! Speaking of Wentz, he also dazzled the crowd with a disappearing act where he left the main stage to reappear at a small platform toward the back of the stadium during their 2005 hit “Dance Dance”. The band did an incredible job of creating a visual atmosphere for each portion of their set. In addition to the band leaning into physical effects, fans also contributed. Many fans made and traded friendship bracelets, and papers were passed out to make the audience shine pink during “Fake Out”. Wentz gave a speech about the power of creating, and he encouraged fans to keep making things. It was a nice moment of recognition for the creative energy fans put into the world.

On this tour, as well as the last one, the rock band has essentially had two sections of surprise songs. Singer Patrick Stump has a solo moment on stage each show where he performs a piano medley. At this show, he dove into two of the band’s slower, emotionally charged songs, “Golden” and “What a Catch, Donnie”. The crowd went wild. Both of these songs are over 15n years old and neither were previously set list staples. Bringing these songs to the stage in 2024 is a testament to how much Fall Out Boy understands their fanbase. Fans want to hear deeper cut songs alongside the big radio hits, and sometimes it’s nice to take a moment to scale down the theatrics to soak in the moment. Thankfully, Fall Out Boy does the theatrics well too. Stump brought the tempo back up with a cover of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” as the rest of the band rejoined him on stage. Not every vocalist has the chops to cover Queen, but Stump absolutely does.

The next surprise song came during their iconic Magic 8 Ball moment. The band has utilized elements of physical nostalgia through this album cycle. The album cover for So Much (for) Stardust features clay letters, as the band wanted the visuals to feel tangible. In referring back to a time before our lives became fully digital, they have also begun to use a Magic 8 Ball in their set. Each show, bassist Pete Wentz gives a speech before asking questions to the large Magic 8 Ball looming over the stage. At this show, he asked if the band should play an old song, and it gave positive affirmation. The band then launched into “27”, a fast and loud rock song with an emotional history. It was never a single, but it is a fan favorite. The band’s fourth album, Folie à Deux, was received with mixed reactions when it debuted in 2008, but in recent years, it has come to be highly celebrated by fans, and the love was evident by the cheers of the crowd. 

Now, over 20 years into their career, Fall Out Boy are still putting their whole heart and soul into their performances. All four members are extremely talented, and their live shows display that. The setlist spanned 7 albums, and the audience went wild for all of it. If you’re a fan of their radio hits, you’ll be delighted to know they performed “Centuries”, “Sugar We’re Goin Down”, “Thnks fr th Mmrs”. If you like the deeper cuts, know that they also performed “Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet” and “Bang The Doldrums”. Arguably now is the best time to be a Fall Out Boy fan. The breadth of their discography means they have something for everyone, and their latest album proves that a band can reach new heights even after two decades of making music. 

Whether you’re a newer or older fan, Fall Out Boy put on a great show. They stand as a reminder of how powerful music can be, and they are proof that the rock scene is alive and well. The band has such an evident love for performing, and their joy is contagious. The crowd vibe will make you forget your worries, and it’ll be a night you remember forever. If you have the opportunity, go see Fall Out Boy while they’re out on tour through the next month.