Fall Out Boy ‘Saves Rock and Roll’ in Los Angeles: Concert Review

Anchoring their show with a slew of old hits, Fall Out Boy lead singer Patrick Stump may have been pleasantly surprised at the audience response to the group’s new material during Thursday’s performance at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

Acknowledging that it’s tough to play new songs because “you guys don’t know them as well yet,” Stump at one point assured fans that their next song would be easy to sing along to. Singing, “na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na,” a chorus of voices echoed right on cue, launching into “Where Did the Party Go,” off the band’s newly-released comeback album, Save Rock and Roll.

PHOTOS: Fall Out Boy at The Wiltern

If anything, the show proved a testament to the fans’ devotion to the pop-punk rockers. Perhaps through a combination of poor acoustics, mumbling and deafening noise, the band’s lyrics were nearly indistinguishable on their own, but the audience didn’t miss a beat. The 1.5 hour-long singalong covered the band’s decade-long career, punctuated by hits including “Sugar, We’re Going Down,” “I Don’t Care,” “Thriller,”  “Dance Dance,” “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s An Arms Race,” “Hum Hallelujah,” “Thnks fr th Mmrs,” “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light ‘Em Up),”  and their latest, “Phoenix.”

Hitting the stage fairly punctually, only a few minutes past 9 p.m., Fall Out Boy followed openers Doors and New Politics to the stage, while a few revelers had already been escorted off the premises for enjoying themselves a little too much. Moments before the band hit the stage, one teen’s limp body was carried out of the venue by paramedics.

“Everyone stay hydrated, we’ve had a couple people pass out,” Pete Wentz told the crowd. “That being said, don’t ever forget the first time you blacked out and can’t remember how you got that butterfly bandage.” Cheers erupted.

The band faithfully delivered on an ear-shattering, heart-pumping set, with the lone disappointment coming during “Light ‘Em Up.” On the chorus, Stump delivered the kicker, “I’m on fiiiiiire,” in a lower register, rendering the song significantly less powerful than its recorded version.

Thankfully, Stump, Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley returned to the stage for a three-song encore, beginning with the title track off their latest. While there was no surprise appearance from Elton John, the rockers paid tribute to some of music’s greatest legends, providing a bit of extra eye candy with a slideshow featuring Elvis Presley, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Biggie, The Beatles, and countless others.

VIDEO: Pete Wentz Calls Fall Out Boy’s ‘Save Rock and Roll’ Success ‘Vindication’

The quartet led into the breakup anthem “Thks fr th mmrs,” opting to close with “Saturday,” challenging anyone hoping to beat the post-show rush to tear themselves away early.

Though based in Chicago, Wentz readily referred to Los Angeles as “home” during the show’s close. “We always love playing in Los Angeles,” he said, shouting out to all their pals who were undoubtedly hanging out backstage.  “We’ll see you in the fall!”

And with that, the boys head to Las Vegas and then on a cross-country trek for the remainder of summer.

Email: Sophie.Schillaci@THR.com; Twitter: @SophieSchillaci

SET LIST:

Thriller?

Slept With?

16 Candles

Boycott Love?

Phoenix

Arms Race?

Tell that Mick

Alone Together?

What a Catch

Party

Death Valley

Hum Hallelujah?

Where is your boy?

Sugar

Young Volcanoes

Dance?

I Don’t Care?

Light em Up

Encore:

Save Rock and Roll?

Mmrs?

Saturday