Yellowcard, New Found Glory, and Plain White T’s at JunkYard

Colorado weather continues to make absolutely no sense.

On a cold, windy May evening that felt more like late October than spring, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, and Plain White T’s brought The Up Up Down Down Tour to Denver’s newest outdoor venue, the JunkYard. Rain threatened all night, temperatures hovered far below what anyone wanted for an outdoor show, and yet thousands of fans showed up ready to sing every word.

This was my first visit to JunkYard, and I came away impressed. The venue strikes a nice balance between feeling large enough for a major tour while still maintaining a more intimate atmosphere than some of Denver’s bigger outdoor spaces. Despite the chilly weather, the crowd filled in quickly and stayed engaged throughout the night.

Plain White T’s kicked things off with a set full of familiar hits and singalong moments. Formed in Illinois in the late 1990s, the band broke into the mainstream with a string of radio-friendly hits that blended pop-punk roots with melodic, heartfelt songwriting. Their catalog has always leaned more toward pop-rock than straight pop-punk, making them a natural fit to open the evening. Songs that have been part of the soundtrack for nearly two decades still connected immediately with the crowd, proving that some choruses never really leave us.

New Found Glory followed and immediately raised the energy level several notches.

One of the most influential bands of the early 2000s pop-punk explosion, New Found Glory helped define the sound of an entire generation with albums like Sticks and Stones and Catalyst. Their trademark mix of fast tempos, huge hooks, and relentless enthusiasm transformed the audience from bundled-up concertgoers trying to stay warm into a sea of movement.

Fans bounced, shouted lyrics back at the stage, and embraced every minute of the band’s set. One of the things that has always made New Found Glory such a strong live act is their ability to make a room – or in this case, an outdoor venue – feel connected. Their songs aren’t just meant to be heard; they’re meant to be shouted back in unison.

By the time Yellowcard took the stage, the weather had become almost irrelevant.

Emerging from the Florida punk scene in the late 1990s, Yellowcard carved out a unique place in alternative music thanks to the addition of Sean Mackin’s violin, a feature that helped set the band apart from their peers. Their breakthrough album Ocean Avenue became one of the defining releases of the era and remains beloved by fans more than twenty years later. Hearing those familiar melodies echo across the venue added an extra layer of emotion to a set packed with fan favorites.

What stood out most was how invested the crowd remained throughout the entire night. This wasn’t a passive nostalgia trip. Fans weren’t simply revisiting songs from their youth. They were fully present, singing every word, reliving memories, and creating new ones at the same time.

The Up Up Down Down Tour brought together three bands that helped shape the soundtrack of the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the evening never felt stuck in the past. Plain White T’s provided the perfect opening, New Found Glory delivered nonstop energy, and Yellowcard closed the night with the emotional punch that has kept their music resonating for so many years.

Cold temperatures, threatening skies, and all, it turned into one of those nights that reminded everyone why live music is worth showing up for, regardless of the forecast.

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Plain White T’s – Denver Concert Photos

New Found Glory – Denver Concert Photos

Yellowcard – Denver Concert Photos

Check out our venue guide for the JunkYard!

Greeblehaus is a Denver-based music and travel blog sharing concert photography, reviews, and stories from live music across Colorado and beyond. You can find more upcoming shows in our Denver concert calendar.