Motion City Soundtrack: Commit This to Memory 10th Anniversary Tour
Showbox Market, Seattle WA
02.17.15
Thinking back on my favorite albums from a decade ago, none comes closer to being my life-long favorite than Motion City Soundtrack’s, Commit This to Memory. I remember spending many days after school watching the music video for “Everything Is Alright” on my parent’s slow dial-up connection. So, you know it had to be good to spend 30 minutes just waiting for it to buffer… They were the first band I saw live at Warped Tour in 2006, and, even in 2015, they’re my go-to favorite of the many album anniversary tours happening this year.
Thirty minutes before Motion City Soundtrack was set to hit the stage, they played preview tracks of their new upcoming album, which I thought was supposed to happen a year ago, but was short lived after they released a preview track called “Inside Out”. Among the loud chatter of the packed venue, I doubt many could even hear the new songs, which sounded like an album worth buying; even more, they sounded like a future tour I would find worthy of supporting and attending. Small posters around the venue read “New Music from Motion City Soundtrack Coming Soon” but, sadly, no date. All I know is, based off of the preview tracks, the album will have the same classic, catchy goodness that Motion City Soundtrack has mastered over the last five albums.
For a decade-old album and fans who were probably 16 at its release, I would not have expected the majority of the crowd to be of high school age. As someone who saw them as a teenager, seeing the lights drop off and the stage lights turn on brought back all the memories of one of my favorite bands. Kicking off with the album’s opening track, “Attractive Today,” Motion City showed just as much or more energy as they did 10 years ago. Keyboardist Jessie Johnson was as energetic as ever, interacting with the crowd between key parts. The same old sweet and poppy lyrics filled the Showbox. The floor turned into a trampoline at the feet of dancing fans. The old album sounded like new again, like listening to it for the first time. “Feel like Rain” and “Hold Me Down” gave me goosebumps.
Their encore included songs from their other four albums. It was a night to remember, and I would recommend to Motion City an annual Commit This to Memory tour.
Review and photos by Logan Westom
Motion City Soundtrack
William Becket
Brick + Mortar
