A Day to Remember at the Hammerstein Ballroom

Jeremy McKinnon

In 2003, guitarist Tom Denney and drummer Bobby Scruggs founded A Day to Remember (often abbreviated ADTR) in Ocala, Florida, drafting vocalist Jeremy McKinnon, rhythm guitarist Neil Westfall, and bassist Joshua Woodard from different bands in the local music scene. Over time, Denny and Scruggs left the band, leaving the remaining members to recruit percussion and drummer Alex Shelnutt in 2006 and lead guitarist Kevin Skaff in 2009. A Day to Remember's mix of emo, metalcore and pop punk music has sold more than a million units, with two albums achieving gold status. The band's sixth and most current album, Bad Vibrations, was released on September 2, 2016.

A Day to Remember's “15 Years In The Making Tour” included Papa Roach, Falling in Reverse, and The Devil Wears Prada as support acts. ADTR's set was dominated by the band's middle period, with no songs from the debut album and only one song, "Paranoia," from the most recent album. The band opened with “I’m Made Of Wax Larry, What Are You Made Of?,” which featured a guest vocal from Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada. Pop punk and emo dominated the band's reference points, leading to endless angst-filled singalongs from the audience, but the skeletons of the songs were often rooted in riff-based metalcore with few extended guitar leads. The convergence of generally soft vocals (although there were a few death growls) and deep and dark grooves made for a lighter shade of metal. A Day to Remember seems to be forging a new path for younger emo bands to follow.

Visit A Day to Remember at www.adtr.com.

Setlist:

1. I'm Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of? (with Mike Hranica)
2. You Already Know What You Are
3. 2nd Sucks (Michael Buffer intro)
4. Right Back at It Again
5. Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson cover)
6. My Life for Hire
7. All Signs Point to Lauderdale
8. Fast Forward to 2012
9. You Be Tails, I'll Be Sonic (preceded by Sonic theme)
10. Monument
11. Paranoia
12. Better Off This Way
13. Show 'Em the Ropes (a fan request)
14. Have Faith in Me
15. Sometimes You're the Hammer, Sometimes You're the Nail
16. All I Want

Encore:

1. If It Means a Lot to You
2. I Remember (Acoustic)
3. The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle
4. The Downfall of Us All