The first time I ever heard Fall Out Boy it was the summer of 2005, back when MTV was actually Music Television (sort of). I remember seeing the music video for “Sugar, We’re Going Down,” where the main character had these bizarre deer antlers. Regardless of the surreal videography, the song stuck with me, and the more I listened to Fall Out Boy, the more I liked them. Fall Out Boy is a band that got me through those angsty teen years, and I’m excited to see them back together and making music.
Fall Out Boy was started by friends Pete Wentz and Joe Trohman back in early 2001. The two regularly played together with hardcore punk bands, but were looking to strike out on their own. Patrick Stump, whose distinct vocals have made Fall Out Boy so recognizable, then a highschooler, overheard Trohman discussing his musical interests in a Borders bookstore, and decided to introduce himself. Stump originally auditioned as a drummer, but the discovery of his impressive vocal range soon had him performing as the band’s lead singer. Current drummer, Andy Hurley signed on soon after, and Fall Out Boy began to perform in earnest.
Fall Out Boy has released five studio albums: Fall Out Boy’s Evening Out with Your Girlfriend (2003), Take This to Your Grave (2003), From Under the Cork Tree (2005), Infinity on High (2007), and Folie à Deux (2008). F.O.B.’s latest album, the first to be released since their 2010 hiatus, during which time the band members explored solo projects, is Save Rock and Roll (2013). The highly anticipated album will debut in May, and their concert tour is already sold out in numerous cities (Philly included, darn it).
Fall Out Boy’s single off their new album, “My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light Em Up)” gives both new and returning fans a glimpse at the band’s return to pop punk glory. Filled with F.O.B.’s classic guitar riffs, danceable beats, and Stump’s signature vocals, “My Songs” reminds audiences why they fell in love with Fall Out Boy in the first place. The band states on their website: “when we were kids, the only thing that got us through most days was music. It’s why we started Fall Out Boy in the first place [….] We needed to plug back in and make some music that matters to us. The future of Fall Out Boy starts now.” With passion like that, F.O.B is sure to go farther than before.