MILWAUKEE, WI | Coming back from an indefinite hiatus, Motion City Soundtrack burst back with contagious fervor for a two-month tour across the United States, aptly and appropriately named the “Don’t Call It A Comeback” tour. The break in the three-year hiatus definitely took me by pleasant surprise, as I had thought I had lost my opportunity to ever get the chance to photograph them after seeing them at Riot Fest in Chicago in 2016, one of their last shows before the hiatus; their last being at Metro Chicago. The Minnesota-based band subsequently kicked off this tour on New Years’ Eve in Chicago right where they left off in full confetti and balloon fashion, counting down the new year and continuing the heartfelt evening with “Together We’ll Ring in the New Year.”
Fast forward to Valentine’s Day 2020: as Justin Pierre, lead vocals and rhythm guitar, noted, Motion City Soundtrack was playing their 17th show at The Rave in Milwaukee that night. Opener and local natives Live Tetherball Tonight got more than a head-nod from Justin as he complimented their music and said he would be listening to their music right after he gets off stage. Recent Jimmy Kimmel Live performers White Reaper preceded Motion City Soundtrack.
The energy and camaraderie of everyone in the room was full of warmth and joyful singing. It was akin to any boisterous sing-along movie bar scene. Justin’s on-point vocals, richly enhanced by a combination of the 16+ years of experience the band spent touring, coupled with the refreshed excitement of the band coming back together again, surged forth alongside members Jesse Johnson on keys and synth, Joshua Cain on lead guitar and backing vocals, Matthew Taylor on bass, and Tony Thaxton on drums.
I personally enjoyed the live rendition the band performed of “My Favorite Accident” especially with Justin’s vocal deliverance veering into a different melody for the bridge during “…Up close the sound remains the same / Without the reign of terror over every momentary change / We are exactly as before…” Of course, how fitting these words were to describe where the band finds themselves to be at this particular time of their career. (Cue reminiscent “Feel Like Rain.”) The reunited band has returned even better than they were before yet still the same, coming together to play music the best they know how for an audience who’ve received the music of Motion City Soundtrack deep within the moments of their own histories and pasts.
As the night inevitably came to an end, Motion City Soundtrack ended their set with “Hold Me Down” before coming back out for an unquestionable encore given that “L.G. FUAD” and “The Future Freaks Me Out” had both been left out of the set thus far. Justin’s continued interaction with the audience concluded with, “Well if I could leave you with one thought it is this: as you leave here tonight, please, be kind to one another… Be kind to one another, go forth, and do really great things. In the name of love,” before Tony counted off and launched the whole room into crowd-belter “The Future Freaks Me Out.”
This was the last stop on their tour before finishing it out with a total of three hometown shows, two of which were sold-out, leading to the addition of the third show. The band has left plans open-ended at this point with no announcement of new music or continued touring, though two dates in May in the UK have been slated. All I know is I’ll commit this to memory—the evening of Valentine’s Day 2020—as time continues to turn fragile. After all, all we have are memories.
SETLIST
Attractive Today
Everything Is Alright
Broken Heart
Disappear
It Had To Be You
When “You’re” Around
Her Words Destroyed My Planet
A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)
Last Night
My Favorite Accident
Make Out Kids
Time Turned Fragile
Capital H
Better Open the Door
Antonia
This Is For Real
Even If It Kills Me
Hold Me Down
ENCORE
L.G. FUAD
The Future Freaks Me Out
