Boys Like Girls are putting a spin on the anniversary tour concept, honoring their own words, “two is better than one.” Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut album and the 17th anniversary of their sophomore album, Love Drunk, they’re playing both back-to-back on a massive US tour, which thundered through the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida this past week.
The band has bottled the true essence of the anniversary tour phenomenon: nostalgia. The theme reflects through more than just the album playthroughs, beginning with promotional content online and creating an onsite experience that welcomes fans to embrace the versions of themselves that fell in love with these albums two decades ago.
Entering the venue, many items at the merch table displayed the iconic green, red, and blue paint splatter of the original album art and even contained a reprint of one of the band’s old tour tees updated to reflect the passing of time, promoting the vintage tour name from “Soundtrack of Your Summer” to “Soundtrack of Your Life.”
The playlist blasted over the house speakers in the 20 or so minutes leading up to the set contained a variety of early 2000s pop throwbacks, getting the crowd singing along and reminiscing before the band even made an appearance. Towers of CRT TVs formed a dynamic alternative to the standard banner backdrop for the stage, displaying iconic pop culture moments from the years each album was released as introductions to the playthroughs.
The fans fully leaned into the feeling, jumping around to the epic choruses of “The Great Escape” and “Love Drunk,” finding room to slow dance during “Two Is Better Than One,” and singing “Five Minutes to Midnight” like it was a Friday night in 2007 and they were back behind the wheel of their mom’s minivan. Even for a casual fan, it was easy to get swept up by the similar experiences and memories shared with the 2,000 people around you. As fun as it is to attend anniversary tours and hear complete bodies of work played start to finish, it’s special when the relationships people formed with these albums upon originally hearing them are truly center stage.
Alongside support from iDKHOW and Arrows In Action, the tour is heading through Texas and wrapping up on the west coast, then it’s the UK’s turn to relive the past with dates of their own.
Boys Like Girls