Pop punk hearts still beat!
By the time doors opened at Boeing Center at Tech Port, the mood already felt different from a normal tour stop. This was the kind of crowd that came with history attached. People in old band tees, couples who probably met during the MySpace era, friends laughing about warped haircuts and burned CDs, all filing in with the same look on their face. They knew what these songs meant to them.
The room leaned nostalgic, sure, but it never felt stuck in the past. It felt excited. Fans in their 30s, 40s, and beyond were ready to scream lyrics like no time had passed. Every conversation around the venue seemed to include a memory tied to one of these records. First heartbreak, first road trip, first concert, first late-night playlist.
That made BOYS LIKE GIRLS bringing The Soundtrack Of Your Life Tour to San Antonio feel personal before a note was even played. Add strong support from Arrows In Action and IDKHow, and the whole night was set up to be more than a nostalgia run. It felt like reopening a chapter people were happy to revisit.
ARROWS IN ACTION
Arrows In Action, with singer/guitarist Victor Viramontes-Pattison, guitarist Matthew Fowler, and drummer Jesse Frimmel, opened the night with a smart balance of polish and punch. They knew they were warming up a room full of longtime fans, but instead of trying to imitate the bands on the bill, they played to their own strengths.
“Light Like You” came in bright and direct, instantly pulling attention toward the stage. The hooks landed quickly, and the crowd responded with that early-set curiosity turning into real engagement. “Over It / Breaking Free” had a playful energy that fit the room well, while “Twice” and “Head In The Clouds” showed they can lean into melody without losing momentum.
What stood out most was confidence. Some openers feel cautious in front of a crowd that came for someone else. This didn’t. They played like they belonged there. The front rows were already moving by midway through the set, and more people kept looking up from drinks and conversations to actually watch.
Closing with “Cheekbones” was a strong call. It had enough edge and bounce to leave a final impression. By the time they walked off, they had done what every opener hopes to do. They made new fans and helped lift the room into the rest of the night.
IDKHOW
I Dont Know How But They Found Me, better known as IDKHow, the indie-pop solo project by singer-songwriter Dallon Weekes, brought a sharper and stranger energy that shifted the mood in the best way. Where the first set leaned warm and welcoming, this one felt stylish, sly, and a little chaotic.
Starting with “Nobody Likes the Opening Band” was both funny and smart. The crowd got the joke immediately, and it loosened everyone up. From there, “Do It All The Time” and “Choke” brought tight rhythms and a theatrical flair that made the whole performance feel larger than the stage.
There’s something appealing about how Dallon Weekes carries a set. He never overdoes it, but he knows exactly how to hold attention. Small gestures, dry humor, sharp timing. It all adds up. “What Love?” and “Downside” kept the pace moving while showing the band’s mix of pop instinct and darker textures.
They closed with “Razzmatazz,” which felt like the right final note. Big enough to land, weird enough to stay memorable. The crowd that may have arrived curious left fully engaged. They were the perfect middle chapter of the lineup, adding contrast before the headliner nostalgia wave arrived.
BOYS LIKE GIRLS
The Soundtrack Of Your Life Tour
Boys Like Girls, with Martin Johnson, Jamel Hawke, Gregory James, and John Keefe, understood exactly what this night needed to be and never fought it. This was not a casual greatest-hits set. It was a full celebration of two records that helped soundtrack a lot of people’s younger years. They performed “Love Drunk” for its 17th anniversary and “Boys Like Girls” for its 20th anniversary, each album played in full and in tracklist order. That level of detail mattered to the crowd.
The first half, centered on Love Drunk, hit with immediate singalong energy. “Heart Heart Heartbreak” came out loud and loose, with the audience already shouting every line. “Love Drunk” turned the room into one big chorus, while “She’s Got A Boyfriend Now” added that playful, dramatic streak the band always did well.
After a short recess, the band returned for the self-titled album, and the mood changed from fun nostalgia to something deeper. These songs clearly carry heavier memories for people. “The First One” and “Five Minutes To Midnight” landed hard, while “Broken Man” gave the set emotional balance.
Then came “The Great Escape.” No surprise, it was the loudest moment of the night. Phones went up, arms around shoulders, strangers singing together like old friends. It felt less like a performance and more like a shared memory being replayed in real time.
The band sounded tight, but more importantly, they sounded invested. They knew these songs still matter to people. That respect came through in every section of the show.
Two Albums – Two Stories
Playing albums front to back can sometimes feel like a novelty move. Here, it made emotional sense. Fans didn’t just want the hits. They wanted the deeper cuts, the songs tied to high school bedrooms, long drives, old breakups, and friendships that started with shared playlists.
Hearing each record in order brought back the pacing people knew by heart. The bigger singles hit harder because they were surrounded by the songs that gave them context. It also showed something important about Boys Like Girls. These albums were built as full statements, not just collections of singles. The crowd recognized that and rewarded it.
How Boys Like Girls Connected
Formed in Massachusetts, Boys Like Girls rose during the mid-2000s wave of pop rock and emo-adjacent radio bands, but they stood out through melody and sincerity. Led by Martin Johnson, the band mixed catchy hooks with lyrics about growing up, heartbreak, and chasing something bigger than your hometown.
Their self-titled debut gave fans staples like “The Great Escape,” while Love Drunk expanded the sound with bigger choruses and cleaner production. What keeps people attached all these years later is simple. These songs became markers in people’s lives. They remind fans of specific years, people, and feelings. That kind of connection lasts longer than trends.
