Sad Summer Fest are hitting the road for their fourth incarnation, bringing a strong lineup of pop punk’s finest across the country.
This festival is an elevated experience for those who counted down the days until Warped Tour every summer but don’t feel like revisiting the experience of relentless sun and dehydrating in a packed pit all day to catch their favorite band. Clearwater, Florida’s brand-new venue, The Sound, hosted the festival’s second date right on the shoreline with plenty of food options, free cold water, shade, and seating.
All of the bands had their own merch tents popped up, which contributed to that Warped Tour feel and prevented fans from having to wait in the inevitable massive line that always populates the general merch stands typically featured at festivals. Some fun surprises were also waiting at the tents, like signed copies of Pvris’ new album ahead of its release date. Those attending might also be treated to a meet and greet from the bands. Before the gates even opened in Clearwater, The Maine hosted trivia and hung out with fans outside of the venue.
Cliffdiver kicked off the day’s performances with an energetic set, undoubtedly charming some new fans in the crowd. Though Stand Atlantic had to cut their set short due to technical difficulties, they powered through and introduced the crowd to the beloved Australian tradition of the “shoey.” Mom Jeans got the crowd moving with their catchy, twinkly tunes. Hot Mulligan and the iconic supergroup L.S. Dunes gave show-stopping, passionate performances, un-phased by the relentless heat of the afternoon. Pvris shared a large chunk of her highly anticipated, soon-to-be-released album, “Evergreen,” and The Maine shared a beautiful connection with their fans while onstage. They even selected a lucky audience member to come up and sing the final chorus of their last song, “Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu.” Taking Back Sunday’s Adam Lazzara also made a guest appearance ahead of their headlining set to sing his parts on “Loved You A Little.”
Taking Back Sunday took the stage at the tail end of a magical sunset to sweep the crowd off their feet for the final set of the day. Their setlist spanned their entire career and included the second-ever live performance of their new track, “The One.” While the crowd in the amphitheater abandoned their seats to stand up and sing along, fans on the lawn were throwing their own dance parties and laying out on blankets to take it all in. There truly wasn’t a bad seat in the house, and a short-lived rogue firework show outside of the venue only enhanced the magic. At the end of a very long, hot festival day, there are few things better than singing along to “MakeDamnSure” with a few thousand strangers.
This Sad Summer is still in its early days and is well worth taking the day off work to embrace your inner emo kid; just remember to stay hydrated, and keep that sunscreen applied!
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