Pop-rock veterans Boys Like Girls kicked off October by bringing a night of 2000s nostalgia to Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium on the second date of their Speaking Our Language Tour.
Friday, October 1, saw the four-piece supported by a range of new and old artists–veteran singer-songwriter The Ready Set, alternative newcomer LØLØ, viral electronic duo 3OH!3, and the classic pop-punk influenced energy and sound of State Champs. Though slightly differing in genres, all served to prime the crowd with energetic setlists. The dark-clad crowd swelled the general admission area of the venue, and many shared nostalgic fondness for 3OH!3 with hand signs representing the band’s name prevalent throughout it as a loud chorus of voices joined their most popular songs.
The energy led into State Champs’ set, opening last. The band filled out their setlist with poppier songs from their 2018 album Living Proof to align better with the less heavy musical acts they were on tour with. Still, there was the greatest enthusiasm for their older hits such as “Secrets,” “All You Are Is History,” and “Elevated.” Frontman Derek Discanio declared it to be a special show–their first Los Angeles performance since he had moved to the city–and called upon a couple of guests to join them on stage, including British pop-punk band Neck Deep’s guitarist Matt West and Boys Like Girls’ own guitarist Gregory James.
Boys Like Girls filled out the stage with the confidence of a band that had been performing for nearly two decades. Their set mainly served as an homage to their roots with the gentle integration of their newest music, such as the 2023 releases “BLOOD AND SUGAR” and “LANGUAGE” from their upcoming album SUNDAY AT FOXWOODS. “Five Minutes to Midnight,” a popular track from their 2005 self-titled album, was the second song to be performed and had the crowd hyped up from the start.
An expansive spread of digital screens backdropped the band members, reflecting visuals directly associated with each song and even adding to the nostalgia by portraying clips from their older music videos–a direct comparison to how far the band has come. Frontman Martin Johnson was effortlessly charismatic as he filled up the silence created by technical issues with gratitude to the fans, especially since many had grown up with their music and stuck around to support them over a decade later.
One of the most memorable tracks live was “Thunder.” A cold blue sky and stormy rain played across the screens, a mournful sight to pair with the melancholic song and the grounded acoustic guitar. Fans sang along and swayed, flashlights and lighters sparking into abundant existence from the darkness of the floor and balcony as a glimmer of hope amidst the storm.
The setlist wrapped up with a series of old favorites sequenced in close succession. Poppier hits from their 2012 album Crazy World, including “Life of the Party” and “On Top of the World,” were interspersed with classic self-titled tracks like “Hero/Heroine” and “The Great Escape.” For the latter, Boys Like Girls were joined by modern alternative singer-songwriter Yung Scuff for a performance that brought many attendees right back to their youth.
Boys Like Girls grew up with their audience and still knows them well, certainly speaking their language in a setlist curated with the keen knowledge of what fans would want to see and accompanied by a series of opening acts that were well in tune with their intentions. The band comfortably honored where they came from and who helped them get to where they are today, with a promise for new music still on the horizon. Their performance at the Hollywood Palladium truly made for a “great escape” into a time capsule for a carefree past–and being able to access that for a night was something truly surreal.
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