PHOTOS & REVIEW BY AMBER BINTLIFF

Jimmy Eat World’s 25 years of Bleed American Tour became a New Jersey success story on a packed night at the Stone Pony Summer Stage on June 25.

It’s impossible to deny the impact that the Arizona rock icons have had on the alternative scene for nearly three decades, connecting with audiences internationally and keeping the spirits of their inner emo kid alive. The monumental album first skyrocketed the band into becoming a household name beyond the boundaries of the genre (seriously, play the chorus of “The Middle” for anyone and I guarantee that they would say, “Oh yeah, I know that one!”). The massive tour now brings Jimmy Eat World around North America to celebrate the anniversary of such a career-defining record and the nostalgia surrounding it.

One of the fun things about this run of shows is the variety of support acts for each date, with New Jersey being lucky enough to score Girls Against Boys and The Wonder Years as theirs. The crowd filled up quickly as Girls Against Boys kicked things off and gave the crowd a 30 minute taste of their post-hardcore roots. The band played a total of eight songs from their extensive catalog, including “Super-Fire,” “Cruise Your New Baby Fly Self,” and “Rockets Are Red.”

The Wonder Years transformed the Jersey Shore into a sweaty reminder of why they’re one of the biggest names in pop-punk almost immediately. Despite announcing their hiatus after their No Closer To Heaven 10 Year Anniversary Tour earlier this year, frontman Dan “Soupy” Campbell simply stated that when Jimmy Eat World calls and asks you to join them on the road, you answer. He ended this sentiment by excitedly sharing that the band would also begin working on their next album after returning home from these few shows.

The best part of any show of the band’s is the community and energy within the pit. The Wonder Years always maintain the most chaotic safe spaces wherever they go and this night in Asbury Park was no different. Crowdsurfers flung through the air almost non-stop throughout their set, eventually being joined by the addition of a double mosh pit raging on as they finished with “Came Out Swinging.”

Hearing Jimmy Eat World perform Bleed American in its entirety was absolutely surreal. They opened their set with a few songs from across their catalog, including “Clarity” and “Lucky Denver Mint.” Jimmy Eat World then transitioned into the Bleed American portion of the night, marking the shift with a complete set design change right as the title track kicked in. The show felt like a strong reflection of their journey as musicians, powering through each song with the same vitality as they did 25 years ago. THEY also added “Big Casino” to the set as an exclusive new jersey treat during the encore, and every word of the chorus could be heard loud and clear.

The biggest memory that stuck with me from this show was the age demographic of the crowd. From toddlers dancing with their parents to friends in their mid-forties catching up over a few drinks in between sets, everyone had some type of distinct connection with Bleed American. This show allowed audience members to soak in the memories of the past while gaining new ones, celebrating an album that’s lived as the soundtrack for generations of music fans. Jimmy Eat World delivered a fantastic performance that showcased their gratitude for the places that Bleed American has led them and their excitement for where they’ll be heading next.

If you’re not local to New Jersey (or if you missed the show and feel like planning a road-trip), Jimmy Eat World still has plenty of shows left of the 25 years of Bleed American Tour. Tickets and more information for the band’s remaining dates can be found here.