Yellowcard unlocked another city on The Up Up Down Down Tour Tuesday night, turning Skyla Credit Union Amphitheater into a live-action save point for pop-punk fans looking to revisit some of their favorite memories. The night began at 7 p.m. with a lineup built to deliver wave after wave of nostalgia.
First up were the Plain White T’s, who wasted no time loading up a setlist packed with familiar favorites. Songs like “1, 2, 3, 4,” “Our Time Now,” and the ever-present “Hey There Delilah” immediately connected with the crowd. During “Hey There Delilah,” thousands of voices joined together without hesitation, creating one of the night’s first standout moments. By the time the band closed their set, fans were still singing the final “oh-oh-ohs” from “Our Time Now.”
At 8 p.m., New Found Glory took the stage just as the sun dipped below the horizon and the venue lights came alive. Mixing classic material with songs from their latest album, the band kept the energy high while throwing in a few jokes along the way.
One of the biggest laughs came when they referenced LimeWire while introducing newer music, a joke that landed perfectly with the millennial-heavy crowd. The band then hit rewind back to their early years, unleashing fan favorites that instantly transported the audience back to 2001.
Between songs, they launched T-shirts into the crowd and even worked in their Punk Goes Disney cover of “Part of Your World,” proving once again why they’ve remained a staple of the genre for decades. With the crowd fully leveled up, the stage was set for Yellowcard.
At 9:30 p.m., fans were greeted by an unexpected pre-show event as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man sprinted across the stage being chased by a Ghostbuster tossing T-shirts into the audience. It felt like a bonus level straight out of the 1980s before Yellowcard finally emerged to roaring cheers.
The band opened with “Better Days,” their first new track following a decade-long hiatus. The song served as a reminder that Yellowcard’s place in pop punk remains secure, even years after many fans first discovered them.
Throughout the evening, the band balanced high-energy anthems with some of their most emotional material. During “Way Away,” frontman Ryan Key leaned over the barricade to grab a fan-made sign reading, “Letting out the noise inside of me.” It was a fitting moment for a show centered around connection, community, and support.
One of the night’s most powerful moments came before “Lift a Sail.” Key spoke openly about his own mental health journey and the importance of seeking help when needed. He shared his experiences with therapy and encouraged fans not to wait years before taking that first step. The crowd responded with chants of “We love you,” before singing every word back during the song’s chorus.
As the set moved toward its conclusion, Yellowcard continued rolling out fan favorites, including “Breathing,” which drew one of the loudest reactions of the night. With the band’s iconic banner dropping perfectly into place behind them, it felt like a snapshot from the early 2000s brought back to life.
Of course, there was only one way to finish the night. As the opening notes of “Ocean Avenue” rang out across the amphitheater, every remaining ounce of energy in the crowd was unleashed. Fans sang every word as if no time had passed since they first heard the song.
For a few hours in Charlotte, Yellowcard offered something more valuable than nostalgia. They created a place where thousands of people could forget about the outside world, reconnect with old memories, and remind each other that they’re not alone.
The Up Up Down Down Tour Remaining Tour Dates (tickets here):
• June 12 — Asbury Park, NJ — Stone Pony Summer Stage
• June 14 — Washington, DC — Vans Warped Tour
• June 15 — Moon Township, PA — UPMC Events Center
• June 17 — Boston, MA — Leader Bank Pavilion
• June 18 — Hampton Beach, NH — Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
• June 19 — Asbury Park, NJ — Stone Pony Summer Stage
• June 20 — Springfield, MA — MassMutual Center
• August 8 — Bethlehem, PA — Musikfest
• August 22 — Montreal, QC — Vans Warped Tour
• September 25 — Ocean City, MD — Oceans Calling
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