A ‘Fired Up’ Tuesday night with the Plain White T’s
By Skylar Mattson
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the Fine Line was fired up with people excitedly waiting to sing some of their favorite 2000s emo boy soft rock love songs. As one of the final stops on their Fired Up Tour, the Plain White T’s brought the “Rhythm Of Love” to Minneapolis right before Valentine’s Day.
The Plain White T’s sound and energy has not changed a bit since the peak of their popularity in the aughts. Whether you know them from season one episode 11 of iCarly or you are a 200os baby whose perceptions of love were formed by the love songs written by the emo boy bands of the time, all of the 2000s nostalgia came rushing back after only hearing a few notes of the Plain White T’s hour and a half-long set.
With their authentic sound and high energy, the headliner’s performance did not disappoint. The band was touring their self-titled album released in November. However, lead singer Tom Higgenson shared that beyond performing their new stuff, the band had set a goal to play at least one song from every album that they had ever released during every performance, making the concert’s setlist span the Plain White T’s discography.
The Plain White T’s made it clear that they wanted to perform what the crowd wanted to hear when they had us vote for one of three songs to hear live through an online platform called set.live. The winning song was “Friends Don’t Let Friends Dial Drunk,” and I think that because the crowd voted for this song, Higgenson performed just a little harder.
Plain White T’s lead singer Tom Higgenson
Higgenson performed with confidence and energy that enraptured the audience. Higgenson made it clear that he wanted to give audience members what they paid for through his banter with the crowd where he would encourage everyone to increase their energy.
Of course the Plain White T’s authentic 2000s emo sound could not be created without the band. Beyond their talent radiating through the instrumentals they played, all three band members contributed flawless vocals that made the band’s sound whole.
Plain White T’s lead guitarist Tim Lopez taking the lead singing roll during the song “The Giving Tree”
I was surprised to discover that Higgenson is not the only main singer in the band. Tim Lopez took the lead for two songs throughout the evening. Tim’s voice was smooth and soft and soothing to the soul. It could not be better suited for the band’s slow, message-bearing songs that take you back to simpler times.
It is a good thing that the Plain White T’s gave a thrilling performance because the crowd was likely questioning the way they were spending their Tuesday night after hearing and witnessing a horrendous performance by the opening band, Pollyanna.
Due to lead singer Jill Beckett’s back injury, she had to perform seated, so I was unable to get a good view of where the lead vocals were coming from since I was standing toward the back of the crowd. However, I didn’t mind not being able to see the lead singer because I also wish I did not have to hear them along with the rest of the band.
Pollyanna’s set was an hour and a half long, and I spent the entire set dumbfounded with my jaw dropped by the fact that the Plain White T’s were letting this distasteful band start off every show of their tour. The instrumentals were so loud that it was impossible to understand what the lead singer was scream-singing or swearing into the mic with her face .1 inches away from it.
Upon taking the stage, the Plain White T’s continued asking the crowd to give it up for Pollyanna because of how great they were. I am assuming that the band members likely suffer from hearing loss from all of their performances over the years, and that is what makes them think that Pollyanna sounds good.
Although the Plain White T’s clearly have bad taste in the music that they choose to listen to, they gave a tasteful performance. If you ever need to be transported back to the 2000s, get some Plain White T’s tickets because their performance will leave you feeling nostalgic.
Additionally, the band’s most famous songs just so happen to be love songs, so their encore puts you in just the right spirit before Valentine’s Day. Two audience members actually shared that their first date was a Plain White T’s concert in Minneapolis, and at that concert, they faked an engagement. Now, that couple is happily married for real.
Clearly, the Plain White T’s have a way of bringing people together through their music, and that is exactly what they did on Feb. 13. Much of the crowd was filled with couples who were holding each other a little closer by the end of the night, and everyone was feeling united in their appreciation for a night of 200os nostalgia and being brought to a simpler place through music.
