New Found Glory Serenades Times Square with Pop Punk Lullabies
Straight from the 90s, alt-rock band, New Found Glory, slowed down their upbeat classics for an acoustic-style punk-rock show this past Saturday in Times Square. Although the songs were played solely on unplugged instruments with a slowed tempo, the band delivered a high-energy performance, engaging the crowd from the first chord to the last strum of their set; all of this in a venue typically intended for classical performances.
If there’s anything more impressive than a raunchy and nostalgic pop-punk show, it’s a raunchy and nostalgic pop-punk show performed on only acoustic instruments. Over 25 years in the making, New Found Glory has become one of the most polished bands of the warped tour era. The band took to the stage of Town Hall to express their love for the fans who have stuck around for all 26 years of New Found Glory hits. I had personally never experienced a New Found Glory show prior to this past weekend, but witnessing the band on their Make The Most Of It tour was the best way to finally catch them. The skill of the four-piece ensemble is undeniable; each member was able to transform fast-tempo songs that we used to mosh to into ballets the entire crowd sang along with.
That being said, what makes the group stand out the most is their versatility on instruments. At one point in the set, the lead singer brought attention to the fact that their drummer was the keyboardist and guitarist for this leg of the tour. Their bassist even took to the triangle towards the end of their set, regaining the attention and excitement of fans with these quick yet impressive instrumental changes. Above all, the lead singer, Jordan Pundik, was what made the band sound so put together in Town Hall; Pundik has a one-of-a-kind, incomparable voice that translates over to the unplugged versions of their greatest hits incredulously. With every song, I found myself falling more in love with the acoustic renditions over the released versions.
New Found Glory capitalized on their high-energy instrumentals overlayed with catchy hooks and chorus’, but this tour proved they’ve transformed and matured with their music. The band has evolved tremendously, and their ability to jump between genres of music while keeping their authenticity to the pop-punk style is what continues to captivate their extremely loyal and diverse fanbase, ranging from 10 to 80 years old. If you’re seeking the next best acoustic album, look no further than New Found Glory’s latest album, Make The Most Of It and definitely catch them unplugged on their current tour supporting the newest album.
