The Maximum Fun Tour rolled into Ruoff Music Center on a warm night that felt tailor-made for a pop punk party. The lineup was stacked, the crowd was buzzing, and from start to finish the show lived up to its name. Each band brought something different, from heavy bursts of energy to soaring sing-alongs, and the result was a night that checked every box for fans of the scene.
Boundaries opened the evening and wasted no time cranking up the intensity. Their sound hit hard, heavy enough to wake up the crowd but focused enough to stay sharp. A microphone glitch popped up during the first song, but the switch to a working mic was done so smoothly that most people didn’t even notice. The band never lost their pace or their command of the stage, and the crowd fed off the resilience. For an opener, they brought the kind of urgency that many bands save for headliner sets, and it made the venue feel alive from the start. Their performance proved that this band knows how to win over a room no matter the slot on the bill. It was the perfect way to kick off the night.
State Champs came next, and they delivered exactly what fans have come to expect from them: pure, unfiltered pop punk energy. Even without the headliner spot, they played like the stage belonged to them. From the first chords, they had the crowd shouting back lyrics, clapping along, and bouncing with every chorus. Their chemistry as a band shines through in the way they move around the stage, constantly in motion and constantly connecting with the audience. It felt like a celebration, with the kind of infectious energy that sweeps up even the casual listeners in the room. They brought smiles, crowd surfers, and hands in the air for nearly every track. State Champs reminded everyone why they’ve become one of the most reliable live acts in modern pop punk.
Yellowcard stepped out to a roar of applause that was part excitement and part gratitude. Their resurgence has been one of the most heartwarming stories in the scene, and with their new single “Better Days” recently hitting number one on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, the band is clearly riding a wave of long-deserved recognition. Their setlist was a masterclass in balance, pulling from deep cuts that satisfied longtime fans, mixing in material from the upcoming album, and rounding it out with the staples that defined a generation. The performance felt both nostalgic and forward-looking, a reminder of how far they’ve come and how much more they still have to offer. Ryan Key’s vocals carried the weight of years while still sounding sharp, and the band’s musicianship was tight and confident. The crowd responded with massive sing-alongs, some voices cracking from years of history with these songs. It was the kind of set that felt less like a performance and more like a shared moment between band and fans.
A Day To Remember closed the show, and in true ADTR fashion, they did not hold back. They stormed the stage with full production in play, and the atmosphere immediately shifted from excitement to pure chaos. Fire, confetti, streamers, and even basketballs flying into the pit turned the night into a full-on party. What makes ADTR stand out is how they manage to balance all of that spectacle with raw musical delivery. Every track landed with precision, spanning their discography so fans of any era had something to scream along with. Jeremy McKinnon’s stage presence demanded attention, pushing the energy higher with every song while the rest of the band stayed perfectly locked in. The crowd matched them step for step, voices carrying across the venue, bodies moving in unison, and no one wanting it to end. It was the kind of closer that ties a show together and makes the ticket feel worth every cent.
The Maximum Fun Tour didn’t just live up to its name, it redefined it. Four bands, four distinct sounds, and one crowd that left the venue buzzing long after the lights came up. This was the kind of night that reminds you why this scene continues to thrive.
-Josh Custer