Jimmy Eat World // 02 Academy // 13.11.24

Last night, Glasgow’s O2 Academy was a sprawling sea of middle-aged emos proving, once and for all, that “it’s not a phase, mum.” This was nostalgia in its most heartfelt form, a night where the spirit of 1999 was revived in glorious Technicolor. The eyeliner may have faded, and the gravity-defying side fringes are now a distant memory, but the love for Jimmy Eat World remains as strong as ever. For the sell-out crowd, this wasn’t just a gig—it was a quick journey down a wormhole back in time to our adolescent bedrooms – no doubt covered with band posters and curated concert ticket stubs.

Opening the night were Canada’s PUP, a band that feels like the chaotic lovechild of Weezer and a hungover Green Day. Tight as a drum and twice as loud, they tore through tracks like “DVP,” “Kids,” and “Dark Days” with a frenzied energy that left the audience grinning like they’d just remembered how much fun being alive can be. If PUP were a dog breed, they’d be a rabid Border Collie: energetic, slightly unhinged, but utterly lovable.

By the time Jimmy Eat World strolled onstage (on time, bless them—because let’s face it, no one here wants to be out too late), the room was electric. They opened with “Pain,” an instant crowd-pleaser that set the tone for a night of glorious catharsis. “Just Tonight…” followed, but it was the third track, “If You Don’t, Don’t,” that sent the room into a pogoing frenzy. For a brief, beautiful moment, everyone forgot about their mortgages and bad knees, bouncing like it was 2001 again.

When they rolled into the achingly beautiful “Your House (2007 version),” you could feel a collective lump forming in the Academy’s throat. The song’s lyrics—“When you gonna come down?”—hit like a sucker punch to the feels, a poignant reminder of heartache that transcends decades. It was emo distilled: bittersweet, deeply human, and undeniably powerful.

Jimmy Eat World’s influences are evident—the earnestness of early R.E.M., the emotional heft of The Cure, and a dash of Springsteen’s blue-collar grandeur. But they’ve always been more than the sum of their parts. This is a band that took emo from the bedrooms of angsty teenagers and elevated it to something universal. Tracks like “All The Way (Stay)” and a delightfully condensed “Goodbye Sky Harbour” showcased their ability to seamlessly blend introspection with anthemic highs.

The set barreled toward its inevitable, euphoric conclusion with “Bleed American”. The crowd was in full indie bliss, fists pumping, voices hoarse, as if the last 20 years had been nothing but a warm-up for this comeback moment. Then came “A Praise Chorus,” followed by the anthem, “The Middle.” If you didn’t scream along to “Everything, everything will be just fine,” were you even there?

After a brief encore, the band ambled back onstage for a heartfelt finale. “Night Drive” and “The World You Love” closed the night, leaving the audience both elated and a little misty-eyed. This wasn’t just a gig; it was a reminder of the power of music to carry us through the years, to bridge the gap between who we were and who we are.

Jimmy Eat World’s music has transcended a quarter of a century, and last night was proof of why. Their songs—uplifting, raw, and timeless—are a testament to the staying power of a band that has evolved with their fans without ever losing their heart. Sometimes, all you need is to dust off your old Converse, grab your best friend, and dance the night away to the songs that made you who you are. And if Gen Z don’t recognise or know emo as a genre? Well, they’re the ones missing out.