One of the most satisfying things about being a long-time fan of a band is seeing how they have grown over the span of their musical career. On Saturday, Feb. 25, Panic at the Disco performed a set at the Wells Fargo Center that proved just how far they have come since forming as a pop punk band in 2004.
It is pretty rare to see a band in this genre nearly sell out a stadium nowadays. The variety of fans Panic has gained over the years ranges from day-one young adults to a new generation of young teens and all were present on Saturday. I think Panic has survived and thrived for so long because they have continued to progress and change their sound, keeping their music relevant.
After the lights dimmed, a dramatic countdown appeared on stage and the crowd chanted along with the numbers on screen. The suspense was felt throughout the whole stadium, building up to a show stopping entrance by Panic and frontman Brendon Urie. They opened their set with “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time,” belting out a popular song into a gold microphone to get the crowd ready for the rest of the night.
Panic sets themselves apart from others in this genre because of their incredible stage presence. Their upbeat, catchy songs were accompanied by a colorful light show that grabbed everyone’s attention. They successfully merged the appeal of a live pop show with the music and vibe of long time punks with the help of Urie’s leather pants and leopard-print jacket.
The bulk of Panic’s set focused on the album being supported during this tour, “Death of a Bachelor.” Of course their older hits found their way into the set, but Urie and the rest of the band made sure to focus on their most recent album and how it showcases where they stand today. This shows just how committed the band is on moving forward in their career and keeping up with what comes next.
The crowd’s reaction to newer songs such as “Hallelujah” and “Death of a Bachelor” showed that their new music is gaining just as much attention as their older hits. Their fans were just as excited to hear songs from “Death of a Bachelor” as they were to sing along to “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” the song that caused 2005’s “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out” to go double platinum. Urie also treated the crowd to another song off an earlier album, “Pretty.Odd,” performing “Nine in the Afternoon” on the piano.
After an incredible night with performances by Saint Motel, Misterwives and of course Panic at the Disco, it finally ended with “Victorious.” This hit has earned great reviews and radio airplay, so it’s no surprise that Panic chose this one to close with. It was definitely a great way to kick off their tour and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for this constantly growing band.