Concert Review: New Found Glory at Buffalo Riverworks

Buffalo Riverworks buzzed with energy on August 25th as New Found Glory took the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their iconic album, Catalyst. Elder emos, or millennials who grew up with the band, packed the venue, with some bringing the potential newest wave of fans, their young children. The nostalgia in the air was palpable, bringing back memories of Warped Tours long-passed, but the band's performance was anything but dated.

Photos by Mariah Senecal-Reilly

Chicago’s Sincere Engineer took the stage first, starting with the single “Anemia” off of their most recent release, Cheap Grills. Deanna Belos’s voice is at once tender with an edge of grit that lends itself perfectly to the lyrics spilling out with gut-wrenching honesty and vulnerability, hitting particularly hard with the lyric “I'm a walking open wound. Don't make any sudden moves.” They sped through an eleven-song set to a warm reception from the crowd. 

From the moment they stepped on stage, it was clear that New Found Glory hasn't lost a step since their debut in 1999. Singer Jordan Pundik looks and sounds like he hasn’t aged a day, with his live vocals nearly identical to his studio performance. The band members jumped around the stage with the same youthful exuberance they had two decades ago. Their passion was apparent and fans responded in kind.

Photos by Mariah Senecal-Reilly

The set was split into two parts, with Catalyst performed in its entirety as the first section, and then a second selection of other songs. While the subject matter and performance had the potential to seem tired after twenty years, it was anything but. Judging by the energy of both the band and the audience, it could’ve been a glimpse back into the band’s heyday.The encore featured tracks from other beloved albums, including tracks from Sticks and Stones, and Coming Home. In an odd twist, the band also performed several Disney tunes, "Part of Your World" and "Let it Go,” perhaps appropriate since many of their fans have children of their own these days. These tracks will be part of an upcoming Pop-Punk goes Disney compilation album, A Whole New Sound, releasing on September 6th. The set rounded out with “My Friends Over You,” and for a second, we were all teenagers again. 

With bands who were popular in the 2000’s experiencing a revival, and many groups cashing in on that interest, New Found Glory could just phone it in. Instead, their performance was a reminder of why they’ve earned their place as long-time pop-punk heroes. Their energy, musicianship, and ability to connect with fans of all ages made for a concert experience that was both a trip down memory lane and a celebration of what's still to come. If this tour is any indication, New Found Glory shows no signs of slowing down—if anything, they're just getting started.

For more photos from the show, check out the full gallery.