Jimmy Eat World at First Avenue, Minneapolis (09 May 2018)

(Amy Kuznia reports for WeHeartMusic.com)

Integrity is a word that can describe any band around for twenty-five years, and Arizona’s Jimmy Eat World proved deserving of that such compliment and more, selling out the Mainroom at First Avenue in Minneapolis in support of the band’s ninth studio album, Integrity Blues (RCA Records).

The three-band line-up was opened up by Microwave, an Atlanta indie-rock band that has been around over five years, but was hitting the local metro for the first time ever, via this tour. Second full-length, Much Love, was released last fall and the band has previously toured with the likes of Minneapolis’ own Motion City Soundtrack and The Wonder Years.  

Worchester, MA band The Hotelier took the middle slot, in a sound shift to something more emo and post-hardcore/punk-pop, in support of their third full-length, Goodness (Tiny Engines Records), wherein they re-assess their own place in this ever-changing world.  The band is more activist in nature than most, but still inspires a sing-a-long or two on its slower songs, and likes to get the audience involved.

A set change later, the lights dimmed and crowd rose up as Jimmy Eat World took to the stage for their just short of two-hour headlining set.  Because of the band’s longtime duration, this was a show where most of the crowd knew the lyrics to almost every song, from the beginning ‘Sure and Certain’ (the lead single from the new album and one of four newer songs played), to more time-tested hits, including a handful from 2001’s breakthrough record, Bleed American. 

The band’s lineup remains solid (Jim Adkins- guitar, vocals; Zach Lind-drums; Tom Linton-rhythm guitar; Rick Burch-bass; with Robin Vining-touring keys, percussion) having been together for eight of the last nine studio releases, and the crowd seemed united in glee to celebrate the songs of a quarter-century of their own life moments set to the band’s soundtrack. 

Adkins still has a youthful face and demeanor and his signature riffs still ignite a response from an audience that grew up along with them, though many younger kids in the crowd also show that the band’s music has now bridged generations. 

Although it was predictably the older songs that got the strongest response, newer songs like ‘Pass the Baby’ had an extra push live, when compared to the record.  The band’s varied set gained momentum as it went, culminating in no less than four strong songs from Bleed American, starting with that album’s title track to end the main set and fully composing the three-song encore that would follow. 

The crowd’s screams went louder as ‘A Praise Chorus’ kicked in, followed by ‘Sweetness’ (a song the NHL’s Florida Panthers now play every time they score a goal)  and ending with the band’s signature song, ‘The Middle’ (which topped the Billboard alternative chart). 

To be an emo band and still be around twenty-five years later is impressive enough; to still be selling out large rooms and have a loyal fan base that sings along to everything, is even more impressive, and that’s what Jimmy Eat World still has- integrity. 

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