A Day To Remember & Yellowcard get cinematic in San Diego

A Day To Remember returned to one of their favorite venues — Gallagher Square in San Diego, CA — as part of their Maximum Fun Tour on October 23rd, bringing their favorite co-headliner Yellowcard along for truly maximum fun. Between the waves of nostalgia, epic production, and interactive games for the audience, there was truly no better way to describe the evening. 

Jacksonville, Florida’s Yellowcard returned to the stage with a newfound sense of purpose with the same heartfelt energy that defined their early-2000s rise. After disbanding in 2017, the band reunited a few years later for festival dates, eventually leading to a new album, Better Days. Before the first note was played, Yellowcard’s crew — dressed as Ghostbusters — set a playful tone by firing T-shirts into the crowd to the tune of Ray Parker Jr.’s iconic theme song. 

Once the lights dimmed, the band launched into a set steeped in nostalgia.

Yellowcard wove together early hits with clever 80s cinematic references, like audio clips from Back to the Future and The Karate Kid… even an entering the stage to the Top Gun theme song and having a drum riser in the shape of a cassette tape. Frontman Ryan Key sounded as strong and clear as he did two decades ago, while violinist Sean Mackin’s joyful stage presence anchored the band’s signature energy. When the opening chords of “Ocean Avenue” hit, the crowd sang every lyric in unison, transported back to years gone by. By the end of the set, we were back in 2006 and you couldn’t tell us otherwise. 

Following Yellowcard’s emotional set, A Day to Remember took the stage and immediately sent the energy level into overdrive. The Ocala, Florida heavyweights opened with their breakout anthem “Downfall of Us All”, a move that instantly ignited the arena. From there, the band delivered a mix of classic hits and new material, supported by an impressive stage production that included pyrotechnics, confetti blasts, and their trademark interactive moments with the crowd. 

As always, the band brought their blend of chaos and humor.

They treated fans to a Space Jam-themed interlude, tossing inflatable basketballs into the crowd before launching into “LeBron”. Two basketball hoops appeared on each side of the stage, complete with a scoreboard tallying points for the left and right sides of the arena. Frontman Jeremy McKinnon kept the crowd in the palm of his hand, orchestrating sing-alongs, call-and-response moments, and plenty of crowd-surfing. The band closed their set with fan-favorite “All Signs Point to Lauderdale” — a fitting end to a night filled with cathartic hooks and communal energy.

With their latest release, Big Ole Album Vol. 1, A Day to Remember proved they’re still evolving with their most recent hit “All My Friends” being THE party calling card of 2025; it will likely reach viral status for people’s end-of-year videos. Together, Yellowcard and A Day to Remember delivered a night that bridged eras, reminding fans — old and new — that pop punk’s heart still beats loud and proud, decades later. With the tour’s conclusion, make sure not to miss ADTR when the band picks back up touring abroad next summer — it’s the funnest show you could see! 

Photography by Franny Kovacs

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