Pop Rock Anthems Live with Plain White T’s

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(Photo Credit - Sarah Jacobs)

I may not know what it's like in New York City, but I do know what it's like in Decatur, Illinois! I dialed it down a few notches on the heavy metal scale this time and brought you a nostalgic classic: the Plain White T's. Don't worry though, their opener, Fluorescents, still had a couple people in the pit throwing elbows... and one guy performing what I can only describe as a scarf dance. We were absolutely here for it.

Fluorescents kicked off the night with a high-energy pop-punk set, drawing people in with catchy, sing-along songs. Although this was my first time hearing them, I was pleasantly surprised.

They had a much edgier sound than I expected, and it made for a really fun live show. You could tell they were having a great time on stage, and that energy translated to the crowd.

After Fluorescents warmed everyone up, the Plain White T'scame out swinging and rolled through hit after hit. I'll be honest, I was never a huge Plain White T's fan. But after seeing them live, I walked away with a newfound respect for them. They genuinely interacted with the crowd and showed a lot of appreciation for their fans.

Of course, they played "Hey There Delilah," but honestly, I found myself enjoying some of the deeper cuts that never made it to radio rotation. They sounded just like they do on their albums and definitely did not disappoint. The crowd was as diverse as a jury trial, yet the band managed to command everyone's attention, getting people out of their seats and singing along all night.

I also have to recommend the Devon Amphitheater. The location is gorgeous, overlooking the lake, and its smaller size creates a much more intimate concert experience. It's the kind of venue where there really isn't a bad seat in the house.