Preview: Chain Fest Featuring Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, Circa Survive, and more at FivePoint Amphitheatre
WORDS BY JAZMIN LEMUS
Chain Fest is finally going to happen! Why am I saying finally? Because this is the same Chain Fest that was announced in early 2020 that was originally going to take place in May 2020. As we continue to safely get back into seeing live music, Chain Fest is one of the things we will get to experience this Saturday at FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California!
With Chain Fest first taking place in 2016, SoCal music fans of the scene had another opportunity to experience the curated festival created by the team at Chain Reaction and Live Nation. After some lineup changes and a number of postponements, fans will get to see sets by Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, Circa Survive, Mayday Parade, Anberlin, Cartel, Envy On The Coast, and The Summer Set!
Legendary rock icons, Jimmy Eat World, are no strangers to the SoCal vibes nor the FivePoint Amphitheatre. With hits such as “The Middle”, “Sweetness”, “Pain”, and “Big Casino”, fans across all parts of the rock genre, will love their set regardless of how familiar they are with them or if they have never seen them in concert. Maybe I’m being bias, but Jimmy Eat World is a band that I feel is REALLY hard to not like. Bangers all the way!
Emo rockers, Taking Back Sunday, are another band that paid their dues early on in their career and have also paved the way for other bands that are playing the festival. Whether you like their early stuff or are a bigger fan of the stuff they have released in later years, it is guaranteed that you will hear a combination of all eras from “Cute Without The ‘E’” to their recent cover of Weezer’s “My Name Is Jonas”. Taking Back Sunday and Jimmy Eat World have partnered up to play a SOLD OUT show tomorrow night at Chain Reaction and I am really jealous of anyone who gets to see that because it is going to be one for the books!
If you’ve seen Circa Survive, you know they will deliver a wild set. No matter how big the venue is that the band plays, it is guaranteed that their set will always be memorable with Anthony Green’s performance and the fans that always manage to find a way to crowd surf during songs such as “The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose” and “Get Out”. Side note: Circa Survive is the only band playing Chain Fest that I’ve had the opportunity to see at Chain Reaction. The first time was in 2009 and as expected, it was crazy and sweaty! They’ll be playing a SOLD OUT show tonight at Chain Reaction ahead of Chain Fest! On Saturday, they’ll be playing songs off Blue Sky Noise!
Mayday Parade have been busy throughout their career delivering alternative rock bangers for their fans over the years. This weekend, they’ll be playing songs off A Lesson In Romantics, which include their hits, “Jamie All Over”, “Miserable At Best”, and “Jersey”.
One of my favorite bands that I haven’t had the opportunity to see is Anberlin and to say I’m excited is an understatement! They’re one of those bands that are able to perfectly create harder songs that you would still be able to hear on your radio stations if stations decided to play them! From songs such as “Godspeed” to “Feel Good Drag”, there will be headbanging on Saturday!
Pop punkers, Cartel, are another band that I have not been able to see and they’ll be treating us to songs off their first album, Chroma! Ahead of the festival, the band is playing a show TOMORROW NIGHT at the Constellation Room at The Observatory in Santa Ana. Some tickets are still available and you can buy them HERE.
Another band that I’m a fan of that unfortunately, I had not seen prior to Saturday is post-hardcore band, Envy On The Coast! By the time I had gotten into them, they were no longer active. In recent years, they’ve been doing things again and I’m excited to say that I’ll finally get to see them!
Lastly, if you are planning on getting to Chain Fest right when doors open, you will be in for a treat with The Summer Set kicking things off! The Arizona pop rock band has been gaining traction throughout their career. They were on hiatus for a few years, but made a comeback earlier this year. So for fans in the area that have been wanting to see them live, this will be a great way to welcome them back!
If you are trying to catch the festival and you’re in LA, OC, or San Diego, you still have a chance to grab tickets as they are running low! You can get them HERE. You DO NOT want to miss this!