New Found Glory @ Factory Theatre

With roughly two years separating their last visit and this one, the energy in the room for the arrival of The Wonder Years practically makes them seem like headliners. As they near the end of touring in support of 2013’s exceptional LP The Greatest Generation, the lion’s share of the set is taken from that album, considering it’s the first time the band has had the opportunity to play it here. It goes over incredibly well, but all bets are off when The Wonder Years delve into their back catalogue to finish up with ‘Washington Square Park’ and ‘Came Out Swinging’, two of their most beloved tracks.

The all-ages aspect of the evening is clearly showcased when the underage kids move out of the way so the overage ones can get a cheeky finger-point and sing-along in for Bayside. The veterans showcase their latest effort, Cult, as well as a few early favourites that allow fans to lose their shit (well, if you count mouthing along to yourself and standing up the back trying not to get hit to be losing one’s shit. All about perspective, you see).

New Found Glory are one of the few pop-punk bands who can be regarded as both evergreen and cross-generational, with a career spanning eight albums that have each subsequently introduced a new audience to their sound. It shows in how the audience engages with just as much ferocity and energy to newer cuts like ‘Selfless’ and ‘Stubborn’ as they do the tried-and-true hits like ‘Something I Call Personality’ and ‘Dressed To Kill’.

It could be argued that the band is somewhat of a three-legged dog at the moment, considering drummer Cyrus Bolooki is off tour on account of his wife giving birth. In practice, however, there are no greater issues whatsoever. Chad Gilbert more than holds his own as the sole guitarist, and former Set Your Goals drummer Mike Ambrose slides seamlessly into the fold. In fact, there’s probably never been a better time to see them than right now. They are playing as if they’ve a new lease on life entirely, and it’s a true joy to see.

The evening closes on ‘All Downhill From Here’, which gets some bodies up in the air one last time and voices united as one for a rousing chorus finale. The wheels keep turning, and New Found Glory survive yet another day.