Song and Concert Review: "Saturday" by Fall Out Boy and the Hella Mega Tour at Wrigley Field

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Just a week ago I was lucky enough to go to my first concert in over a year and a half, and let me tell you, it was quite the experience. COVID may still be raging across the globe and things in the Middle East have never looked so bleak, but for the roughly five or so hours I was present for the Hella Mega Tour at Wrigley Field the world’s troubles seemed to melt away.

Weezer opened and they were good; they nailed their brand of arena rock and were a good opener, but it was Fall Out Boy that really started the show. Up until the week of the show I hardly knew any of their stuff, and in fact, I pretty much avoided them.

My girlfriend on the other hand is a pretty big fan of theirs and saw them at Wrigley before in 2018 and had a blast. So, I dug into some of their earlier stuff, and well, goddamn, I was missing out.

By far my favorite track from their earlier discography is “Saturday” off their debut record, 2001’s Take This To Your Grave. Filled to the brim with emo angst and punk punch, “Saturday” was the perfect song to close their powerful set.

For the uninitiated, Fall Out Boy got their start in the underground punk scene of Chicago and its suburbs until their 2009 breakup where in 2013 they reformed and moved towards a more mainstream pop sound. But it was during their more punk and emo days where the quartet garnered their still dedicated fan base through angsty songs and super catchy choruses, mainly crafted by bassist Pete Wentz.

Take This To Your Grave has been cited as highly influential for punk music, especially in the early 2000s, and with tracks like “Dead on Arrival”, “Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy”, and yes, “Saturday”, it is clear that the Wilmette boys are fond of Green Day and Jimmy Eat World.

“Saturday” is an anthemic emo sing along that discusses the struggles of coming to grips with a bleak and uncertain future, with the slight potential of better days coming along. Frontman Patrick Stump is superb in his lyrical delivery, which is surprising because he apparently did not take his singing duties seriously until their third album, Infinity on High.

By far the highlight of the track is the screamo backing vocals sung by Wentz. The heavy, throat-shredding screaming adds that extra emo flavor that have made “Saturday” the perfect song for the band to close out their sets.

As I have repeatedly stated before, I love Chicago and its music scene. There is something truly special about the bands and singers that call the Windy City their home. It’s the sense of humbleness, I think.

Whether you’ve been playing stadiums for roughly 20 years like the Smashing Pumpkins, you’re certified rock legends like Cheap Trick, emo darlings like Alkaline Trio, or musical gods like Muddy Waters, no matter how big you get or how famous you are, there is the humbleness where you always see Chicago as your home.

Pete Wentz addressed the frenzied crowd at least twice about how good it was to be back home and playing at Wrigley Field, which is essentially a place of worship for all Chicagoans. And honestly he could’ve said the same between each song and it wouldn’t have dampened his youthful excitement to be back home.

The band’s performance and excitement was only heightened due to them playing in between Weezer and Green Day, with the latter absolutely blowing me away. Green Day is a band that I thought I’d never see, especially since COVID cancelled their initial 2020 tour dates, so it was very special to see them live.

It was like I was watching my life jump around on stage and through the stadium. It was something I’ll never forget. My entire musical obsession began with Green Day and just seeing them live, in front of me, was breathtaking. All in all, the Hella Mega Tour was phenomenal and Fall Out Boy was a special addition for me.