Last night at House of Blues, headliners Motion City Soundtrack immediately sent the crowd into a complete frenzy as they took the stage. Between songs, frontman Justin Pierre told a variety of stories (topics ranged from the Transformers cartoon to singer-songwriter Tom
Waits). The band breezed through its 2005 album Commit This to Memory, leaving the stage as the crowd demanded more. Five additional songs were granted, but not without a comment from Pierre who said, “If you like something, support it.” The night began with Teen Spirit, a band that ricocheted across the stage infused with a pop-punk presence that sizzled. The band joked about actor Jeff Goldblum, hoping he’d be in attendance at one of their shows eventually. Ohio natives Hawthorne Heights took to the stage with the lights low. Hits like “Niki FM,” “Pens and Needles” and “Silver Bullet” got the crowd singing. “We appreciate good Ohio people, just like we are,” said front man JT Woodruff. In fact, he had nothing but love to send out to the crowd. “Cleveland, you’re a special fucking city and we absolutely love you,” he continued. “This last song, no matter where we play it, is always for you. You guys are the reason this song made it.” The band closed its set with the crowd erupting into a sing-a-long to “Ohio is for Lovers.”

Photos by Amber Patrick