A Day To Remember - Gig Review & Photo Gallery 3rd March @ Fortitude Music Hall, Bris QLD

A Day To Remember
Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
March 3rd, 2025
Supports: Thornhill and Ocean Grove

Hot off the back of their fantastic comeback at Knotfest Australia, beloved boys A Day To Remember lived up to their namesake at their only festival sideshow in Bris-Vegas; and fans turned out in droves to catch the lads for a night of emotive sing-a-longs, breakdowns and roughhousing within the walls of the Forty Music Hall.

Kicking off proceedings were Ocean Grove who - fresh from their UK // EU domination supporting The Devil Wears Prada - launched into their set which consisted of newer tracks from their latest release ODDWORLD including 'FLY AWAY', and 'CELL DIVISION', the latter featuring a guest cameo from OG vocalist (and behind the scenes member) Luke Holmes, who burst onto the stage amidst a sea of cheers, and remained as they powered into classic track 'Stratosphere Love'. Frontman Dale Tanner stated "we haven't played this song before" as they launched into an Aussie live debut of 'RAINDROP' which got punters up close to the stage moving. As Dale bounced about the place like an action packed Energizer Bunny, he tangoed with bassist Twiggy Hunter, swapping vocal and guitar duties for various songs while the GOAT Sam Bassal smashed away on that kit and proved why he's one of Australia's greatest new-age drumming prodigies. 'JUNKIE$' wrapped up the band's warm up duties nicely and the evening was well and truly underway.

Next, things took a turn for the sexy as Thornhill graced us with their alluring presence and immediately ripped into a set which harked back to their earlier roots with plenty of heavy moments, breakdowns, screams and Jacob Charlton's enticing vocal display. As the band powered through signature songs like 'Silver Swarm', 'Obsession', 'Lily & The Moon', 'Casanova', 'nerv' and the always appreciated 'Where We Go When We Die'; people watching in the venue was a must, especially with the collective in the mezzanine area nodding in unison to the band's intricate playing style, which also featured a show-stealing solo from guitarist Ethan McCann.

A personal highlight for me was when the boys road tested a brand new song called 'TONGUES' (which is set for release on Friday) and features on their forthcoming album BODIES. It's a moody number with soaring vocals, intricate screams and a short blastbeat section that will satisfy the desires of long term fans. Stay tuned for more kids. You could tell there were a lot of attendees who hadn't heard of the band before, and there's no denying Thornhill walked away with a stack of new fans following that set.

Last but certainly not least came Ocala, Florida locals A Day To Remember. The band were welcomed to the stage with screams and cheers all throughout the Forty and what followed over the course of the next hour and a half was, in a nutshell, banger after banger from the boys. Considering this was ADTR's first headline show in Australia since 2016's Bad Vibes Tour, they certainly made up for lost time between sweaty moshpits by bringing an arsenal of their back catalogue which stretched from new release Big Ole Album Vol 1, all the way back to their iconic 2009 record Homesick (and a few surprises in between).

Kicking things off with 'Sticks & Bricks', 'All I Want', and '2nd Sucks' we were all reminded just how many memorable classics this outfit have accumulated over the years. Frontman Jeremy McKinnon stalked the stage like a lion hunting prey with guitarists Kevin Skaff and Neil Westwell swapping sides without missing a beat - or losing the smiles on their faces. 'Paranoid' resulted in the first circlepit of the night, with a frenzy then breaking out during 'I'm Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?', before 'Right Back at It Again' brought out everyone's best signing skills - along with Kevin's exceptional Angus Young guitar walk impersonation.

Despite completely irrelevant signs warning punters not to crowdsurf or mosh, Jeremy called for the band's now staple crowdsurfer surfing on a crowdsurfer for new single 'LeBron' - which unlocked a new milestone for the Forty Music Hall as rowdy fans disrespected the signs (and surroundings) like it was no one's business. 'Miracle and 'Mindreader' were received well and the ladies among us got up on available shoulders yet again for 'Have Faith In Me' with Jeremy acknowledging every single human who was raised above the crowd to belt out the words.

It wasn't just the best bits we copped, the band tore into songs they hadn't played for a number of years, including 'Violence (Enough Is Enough)' which McKinnon stressed would only be brought back into the set depending on the Brisbane audience's participation - to which we collectively lost our minds in appreciation of the Common Courtesy throwback. We were also treated to another Australia first after touring guitarist Bobby Lynge told the band the one song he wanted to play in Australia was their cover of Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone' - to which the band seemed reluctant to play, before the crowd reminded them just how much we wanted it. Following completion, Jeremy addressed us all by stating they hadn't played it in Australia - not even on the Parkway Drive tour in 2008 - and confirmed this fact with a random fan in the pit who the band took the word of with a big ol thumbs up.

*Correction: According to WoS readers, the band did in fact play it during the 2008 Sweatfest shows in both Brisbane and Melbourne. So technically this is the first time they've whipped it out in 17 years down under!

Their Marshmello collab 'Rescue Me' provided a chance to catch our breaths as the band's crew launched beach balls about the place - all of which remained in the air for the song's duration. Four back to back bangers - 'You Be Tails, I'll Be Sonic', 'Mr. Highway's Thinking About the End', 'Resentment', and 'All Signs Point to Lauderdale' - rounded out the set which also included a comedic cover of Nirvana's 'Come As You Are' (IYKYK) in between. However, we were left wanting more and so the chants began for the boys to return to the stage.

With an acoustic guitar in hand, we were treated to a moving rendition of 'If It Means A Lot To You' as the coupled up concert-goers grabbed their loved ones in warm embrace and began singing the song to each other like no one else was in the room. A very touching moment which was supposed to be followed up by the climax of 'The Downfall of Us All' - however Jeremy mistakenly lost track of the setlist and the band instead jumped into 'NJ Legion Iced Tea' and THEN 'The Downfall Of Us All' brought us all to conclusion.

The SOLD OUT show attendees gave their all - including many of us who backed up two nights in a row following KNOTFEST - and as the band said their final goodbyes, we couldn't help but feel fulfilled with not only an extensive trip back through ADTR's musical time capsule, but new ground covered with live performances of songs MANY of us have been waiting well over a decade to hear in concert.

The boys stated they'll be back soon and they better keep that promise. We'll without a doubt be waiting as we remember this day, forever.

Keep your eyes peeled for our interview with Jeremy McKinnon backstage at KNOTFEST (dropping soon) and make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to potentially get your hands on something big, round and spinny that we'll be giving away in the lead up to the digital release of Big Ole Album Vol 1 on March 21st...

Setlist

Sticks & Bricks
All I Want
2nd Sucks
Paranoia
I'm Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?
Right Back at It Again
LeBron
Miracle
Violence (Enough Is Enough)
Mindreader
Rescue Me (Marshmello cover)
Have Faith in Me (Acoustic)
Make It Make Sense
Welcome to the Family
Feedback
Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson cover)
You Be Tails, I'll Be Sonic
Mr. Highway's Thinking About the End
Resentment
All Signs Point to Lauderdale

Encore

If It Means a Lot to You
NJ Legion Iced Tea
The Downfall of Us All

Review by Paul 'Browny' Brown @brownypaul

Review & Photo Gallery by Charlyn Cameron. Insta: @chuck_stuff. Please Credit & Tag Wall of Sound and Charlyn Cameron if you repost photos.