The Future Freaks Me Out Without: Motion City Soundtrack

Motion City Soundtrack w/ The Spill Canvas and Microwave
Showbox, Seattle, WA
05.06.16

On March 11^th Motion City Soundtrack released to the world that they “have no idea what the future holds, but for now we are done,” causing fans to have “all the feels.” Three days later they announced that their original drummer would be returning for a final tour, and fans patiently waited another month and a half to see them arrive at The Showbox in Seattle. MCS did not disappoint.

Known for lyrically and musically getting you through break ups, mess-ups, successes, fails, and everything in between; MCS started in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1997. The lineup for this tour was lead vocalist Justin Pierre, guitarist Joshua Cain, Jesse Johnson on keys, bassist Mathew Taylor, and Tony Thaxton on the drums. These five gentlemen have put out six studio albums and toured constantly. After being together for nearly twenty years they decided to take an indefinite break, also breaking our hearts in the process. This final tour is their “So Long, Farewell Tour.”

May 6^th 2016, the world was slowly coming to an end, but apparently the weather didn’t get the message. It was a beautifully warm, sunny day in Seattle. The venue began to slowly fill and openers Microwave and The Spill Canvas appropriately set the tone for MCS with angsty words, catchy beats, and very raw emotions. By end of the Spill Canvas’s last song, “All Hail the Heartbreaker,” The Showbox was full of energy.

Setting the stage with a purple “Motion City Soundtrack” banner, dark purple lights glowed, and MCS got started. Pierre opened the show by walking solo onto the stage singing the opening verse to “Back to the Beat.” As his perfectly insane hair approached the microphone, the entire crowd went crazy, screaming uncontrollably. Their screams only grew louder as the verse ended and the rest of the band joined him on stage. They played through nearly every album; a set list including their most popular songs as well as some audience requests.

This show ran the full spectrum of emotions. People were thrashing and punching the air one moment and wailing the beautiful lyrics the next (because how else are you supposed to say “you hold me down”?). This was a show designed for everyone. The crowd ranged from teenage girls to grown men, all who were equally passionate and enthused for this departing band. As the set continued the band behaved in their usual manner, telling funny stories, reliving memories from The Showbox from Halloweens past, and seemingly forgetting they have a set list.

The sound from this show vibrated into your chest, translating into physical movement, making it nearly impossible to stand still. Their performance animated the crowd into a moving mass of energy. As MCS finished singing “Everything is Alright,” the audience immediately exploded with applause as the entire band walked off stage. A chant for “one more song!” broke out and quickly turned to “five more songs!” The band came back on stage and gave us a beautiful three-song encore, a great compromise.

The band finished for the second time, and Pierre asked everyone to take a large group picture for Instagram. The show was amazing. Although this is the end of an era, everyone left The Showbox with a smile on their face. MCS has always given the world words to express their feelings; this stands true even in regard to their own ending.

“All good things eventually end and get washed down the drain”

R.I.P. Motion City Soundtrack, 1997-2016

Motion City Soundtrack Set List
Back to the Beat
Cambridge
Shiver Away
Her Words Destroyed My Planet
It Had to Be You
True Romance
Make Out Kids
Time Turned Fragile
L.G. FUAD
Last Night
My Favorite Accident
This is for Real
Even if it Kills Me
Attractive Today
Red Dress
Hold Me Down
Modern Chemistry
A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)
Everything is Alright
Encore:
When You’re Around
Better Open the Door
The Future Freaks Me Ou