210 -- Jimmy Eat World -- Tuesday, July 18, 2017 -- Xfinity Center -- Mansfield, MA

I was furious when I found after buying tickets that J.E.W. would be the opener, not the headliner.  This meant fewer songs, fewer fans, and fewer chances to make a connection.  This was especially frustrating because K (Erik Kastman) and I had spent many days coordinating a Boston visit to see them.

Luckily, I had no reason to be angry.  Jimmy Eat World’s performance was better than any opening band I’ve seen.  They seemed to take the built-in disadvantage as a challenge.  They threw more energy into this performance than any previous show.  It felt like a mission: You may not have come here to see us, and you may not get to hear everything you want to hear, but we WILL leave our mark.  

--- “Bleed American”!!!!  The fierce red backdrop and immediate contrast with the lackluster “Sure and Certain” gave it a power it's never had before.

--- “Big Casino”: yay at “New Jersey success story”!  Bruuuuuce.  The song reminded me of the times Bruce came up during the drive and during the pub dinner.  (Other satisfying pre-show moments included fitting in every Jimmy/Incubus prep track in time, and K nearly convincing me that Dookie was better than American Idiot.)

--- This guy to the right of me has his arm in a sling…yet he’s pumping with the other arm!  K: “I've got two arms, so I've got no excuse!"

--- “I Will Steal You Back”: meh, like the rest of Damages.

--- “Lucky Denver Mint”: better.

--- Cool new guitar solo intro to Hark's “Futures.”  Maybe because I've never been so close before, but I like that Jim Adkins looks like a maniac.  He’s not phoning it in for a second!  The fact that he keeps amping the crowd for Incubus is great too.

--- Hahaha at me calling the absurdly creepy departure “Pass The Baby (Here)” right before they play it!!  K can verify.  I had not known about the rhythm shift halfway through!!

--- “Pain”!!!!

--- “Work”: “Get out of this place while we still have time.”  No -- never leave!!!

--- “Hear You Me”: K cracking up at the Hark “ANGELs lead you in” section.

--- “Always Be”: not the strongest song for a short set, but points for originality.  Apparently it fits Molly Ringwald.

--- Gah at a new one, but “Get Right” does have some creepy baby-passing charisma.

--- “A Praise Chorus” into surprise “Sweetness”!!!!  Best opener ever.  Solves the “Middle” problem!!  Joy.  So glad for K.

Grade: A