Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Cobra Lounge in Chicago, IL
Kismet is the word I would use to describe how I ended up going to the @Motion City Soundtrack show to celebrate the upcoming release of their new album, The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World. I was heading to Chicago for several days for a work event, and since I was going to be there, I was endlessly searching for a show to go to on one of the nights I’d be in the city. However, with Riot Fest just a couple days after I leave, I realized that many bands I would want to see would be planning to be there.
And then about two weeks ago, my friend Shar sent me a post on Instagram and asked me, “Did you know about this?”
I opened it up and was shocked and elated to find out that one of my favorite bands was going to be doing one of their album release shows in Chicago on one of the nights I’d be in town. So, I downloaded the Dice app and refreshed the Motion City page until noon on Friday and purchased myself and my boss tickets.
It has been 10 years since the band has put out a new album, and this upcoming one has been hotly anticipated with four singles all demonstrating that Justin, Josh, Jesse, Tony and Matt are back and better than ever. Since their appearance on the Sad Summer tour in 2023, I have gotten to see Motion City in several different venues, from festival stages to outdoor venues, but the Cobra Lounge would be a new and unique experience because it would be the most intimate venue yet. With a capacity of 280 and a stage whose height went up to my waist, I was able to sit my hands on the stage right in front of their touring rhythm guitarist, Zach’s, microphone stand.
Now, let’s get this out of the way: No, Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy did not show up to sing his part for their new single “Particle Physics.” Yes, I’m bummed too especially because both Justin Courtney Pierre and Josh Cain reposted my video theorizing that he would on their respective Instagram stories. However, we still got the live debut of the song, and really the reason we were all there was to celebrate their album release anyway. I realized afterward that the producer of their album, Sean O’Keefe, was in attendance, and it’s amazing to be in the same room as that Chicago legend.
The show opened with a band out of Detroit, Michigan, Low Phase, who amped up the crowd with their infectious songs and onstage banter. Lead singer and guitarist, Caleb, told us the story of how they ended up opening for Motion City, saying he had just gotten married and promised his wife they wouldn’t do any tours or shows until after their honeymoon in October, but then got the call and even she knew they couldn’t turn it down. If you get a chance to check this band out, I’d highly recommend that you do. And listen to their single “It’s Killing You,” and tell me you do not hear the drum and guitar riff of “Sugar We’re Going Down.”
After Low Phase opened, Motion City came on at 9PM. The energy of the crowd was electric, and you could tell that the real fans showed up for this album release. Everyone in the crowd knew all the words and sang those words back to the band with gusto and excitement. It gave me chills to be in this intimate space with a band and its devoted fan base, especially when we all screamed Matt Kerekes verse in “You’re Days are Numbered.” Even Justin said he got chills from that after the song was over.
They mixed in their new singles like “She is Afraid” and “You Know Who The Fuck We Are” with some of their fan favorites like “Make Out Kids,” “LGFUAD,” and “My Favorite Accident,” in a tight 18-song set list, and those songs felt like they belonged, like they had always been in the set. Justin charmed the crowd with his usual frenetic awkward energy and interpretive dancing that he does during the songs and between songs offered up some of his usual Justin-isms of wisdom and laughs, especially between him and Josh. You can tell they have been friends for a long time. He also was there to remind all of us in the room that it’s okay to be not okay, and sometimes you need to hear that from the front man of one of your favorite bands to know he feels the way you do sometimes.
Motion City’s performance always feels big on any stage, but on this small stage it felt even grander. Jesse Mack Johnson’s frantic jumping behind the keyboard and cueing the crowd to clap during different parts of the songs heightened the energy as did Josh’s infectious and precise riffs. My boss, who’s never seen Motion City before (her regular concert-going days predate when Motion City came out) fell in love with Tony’s drumming, which reinforces why I chose him for my drummer in my emo supergroup. Even Zach, their touring guitarist, brought his A-game for this show and proves why he’s been such an integral part of their live set.
For a band like Motion City Soundtrack, legends in the scene, you don’t need fancy stage props and light shows. You just need these five guys on stage and the decades long friendship between them to shine through. You can hear their legacy in the songs they sing on stage, in the way the crowd sings along with such passion and love for this band. It’s truly a beautiful sight that left me feeling energized and wishing I could have listened to the CD I bought of the new album that night (except my hotel room did not have a CD player because it’s 2025).
The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World is out today wherever you get your CDs and records and on all streaming platforms. Please listen and give Motion City Soundtrack the respect and love they deserve.
