A Night of Maximum Fun: A Day to Remember & Yellowcard Live!

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Rockstar Culture in Concert Reviews // 1 Comment

▣SNHU Arena | Manchester, NH ▣Saturday, November 8th 2025
▣Photographer/Journalist: Carlos Londono

Saturday night, A Day to Remember and Yellowcard brought their Maximum Fun Tour to the SNHU Arena, with special guests Dinosaur Pile-Up and The Wonder Years—a night their New England fans would not forget!

The arena looked pretty packed when I arrived. The first thing I noticed was that there were some people dressed up in costumes. I saw a few girls dressed up as hot dogs. Not sure what the meaning was, but maybe they were still in the Halloween spirit. I would see a few more people dressed up in costumes throughout the night; it was pretty funny to see.

The show got off to a bad start when we learned of a last-minute cancellation from openers Dinosaur Pile-Up. Apparently, the Canadian band was still having issues with their visas and would have to cancel yet another show. It was disappointing news to their fans, some traveling out of state to be here. We hope that they can resolve their visa issues so they can rejoin the tour soon. Best of luck to those guys.

It would be The Wonder Years who would open. And the Pennsylvania band literally came out swinging—no pun intended, seeing that that is the name of one of their songs. From beginning to end, the guys from The Wonder Years did not disappoint. The crowd went hard in the few mosh pits that had formed, followed by some gnarly crowd surfing from the audience in attendance.

This was my first time seeing The Wonder Years live. I thought they sounded great and really connected with their fans. Their lead singer Dan Campbell was impressive to watch. He commanded the stage with ease. At one point, someone in the crowd was hurt. He instantly recognized it and shut down the entire production to make sure the fallen fan was getting proper care. He then, like a prophet, asked the crowd to make way so they could get her out.

Like Moses parting the waters, the fan was carried out to the front of the stage so she could get medical attention. And it wasn’t until he made sure that she was carried out safely that he continued the show. It was good to see that kind of care toward their fans.

The Wonder Years effortlessly captivated their audience with a blend of raw emotion and passion. It was the perfect start to the night in Manchester.

The first headliner of the night, Yellowcard, would grace the stage next. Now, I saw these guys perform back on Warped Tour ’04. I can’t remember them sounding this good, man! And their performance, which included some unique props and music from ’80s movies throughout their set, was just so freaking cool from beginning to end.

Before their start, a BMX rider from the movie Rad came out riding onto the stage, throwing T-shirts at the audience. That movie is a classic! What an awesome thing to have before their set.

The lights went out, and guitarist Ryan Mendez came on stage and started to play the anthem from the movie Top Gun. Violinist Sean Mackin came on stage right behind him as the rest of the guys joined, and we all watched in awe. The anthem was an introduction piece, and it just worked so well.

The guys immediately got to work and started their set with the fan favorite “Only One,” a classic song from their album Ocean Avenue, which is an iconic album from that era. The energy may have slowed down a bit, but it was because their fans came together in unity for a sing-along of their old hit. It truly is moments like these that capture the passion from the fans.

Throughout the rest of their set, there were clips and props from more ’80s movies—from The Goonies to Back to the Future. And from the movie Say Anything, lead singer Ryan Key even came out sporting a long coat with a boombox over his head as the music from the movie played. Their performance celebrated these classic movies from the ’80s—a true dream come true for any fan of that era.

This band has a catalog of songs that resonate with me, especially from the early Vans Warped Tour days. And they were playing them all tonight—from “Lights and Sounds” to “Breathing,” “Awakening,” and “Light Up the Sky.” They were all there! They truly brought me back in time.

Yellowcard also treated us to a few new ones. The band recently dropped their newest release, “Better Days.” The album was released in October of this year and has been creating a buzz since its release. Lead singer Ryan Key spoke on the album during the show. He expressed how proud he was of this project and how privileged he was to have their friend Travis Barker not only produce it, but also play drums on the album.

This is the band’s first album since their self-titled 2016 release and the band’s breakup. Key spoke about how there was a time they thought about quitting, but thanks to their fans, they continued their musical journey. And they couldn’t be more grateful.

Yellowcard ended their set with another one of their hits, “With You Around,” before moving to one of their newest songs, “Better Days.” The already catchy song was a great way to send us to their closer and the band’s biggest hit, “Ocean Avenue.” The song sparked a full-on sing-along, as the entire arena could be heard singing their classic song. It was a perfect ending to their set.

Yellowcard is back bigger than ever! They proved once again why they remain one of the most beloved and respected acts in alternative music. Their raw emotion, infectious energy, and undeniable talent were evident. They delivered a performance that will long be remembered by those lucky enough to be in attendance.

Now it was time for the main headliner, A Day to Remember. The band came out of the gate blazing with energy, and their fans were ready for all the action. Their set ignited some of the best crowd surfing I’ve ever seen. In fact, I’ve been privileged to attend a lot of different shows, but the crowd surfing I witnessed during their set was on another level.

Lead singer Jeremy McKinnon told the audience that he wanted to take the crowd surfing up a notch. That’s when he explained what he was referring to—to have a person crowd surf while someone else stands on top of them and uses them like a surfboard.

As the crowd cheered in agreement, the scene quickly transformed into a chaotic yet hilarious sight. Fans began to clamber atop each other’s shoulders, forming makeshift surfboards for their daring counterparts to balance on. Amidst laughter and screams, the daring “human surfers” were hoisted into the air and carried across the sea of fans, creating a unique spectacle that perfectly encapsulated the carefree and adventurous spirit of the night.

Also, the mosh pits during their set were the hardest of the night. The energy in the room reached a fever pitch as the crowd eagerly engaged in the band’s interactive games. A Day to Remember pulled out all the stops, unveiling gigantic inflatable basketballs and setting up three large hoops on stage. In an instant, the room erupted into a wild frenzy as the audience divided into teams, each determined to prove which side was better—the right or the left.

Balls were tossed into the air, bouncing off heads and hands as fans fought to sink the perfect shot. Laughter and cheers filled the venue, making it clear that A Day to Remember knows how to throw a party and connect with their fans. I took a few more photos with my phone so you could see what I’m talking about. Check them out below!

A Day to Remember’s set was an absolute masterclass in fan engagement, with their creative and playful games transforming the concert into an immersive experience. As a first-time attendee, and although I don’t consider myself a fan of their music, I will say that they put on one of the most entertaining and fun shows I’ve ever witnessed. Even if you weren’t a die-hard fan of their music, it would still be a fun and worthwhile experience.

Their contagious spirit and ability to connect with their fans made for an unforgettable night that left me with a newfound appreciation for the band’s talent and charm.

The entire tour was full of unforgettable experiences, but a few highlights truly stole the show. Watching The Wonder Years’ singer command the stage with his raw talent – inspiring moment, while reconnecting with Yellowcard’s music brought back a wave of nostalgia and joy. But the true star of the evening was undoubtedly Sean Mackin, whose electrifying violin skills blew me away!

The intensity didn’t stop there, as the mosh pit during A Day to Remember’s performance was nothing short of wild. With bodies flying everywhere, it was a true testament to the power of live music and the infectious enthusiasm of the fans.

Check out our staff photographer, Carlos Londono photos now!