Senses Fail at Barracuda in Austin, TX

Bringing a wave of nostalgia, Senses Fail delivered throw-back tunes all the way from their debut release to their latest album.

Hailing from the Land Down Under, Yours Truly kicked off the show to a decent crowd of teens to 30-to-35-year-olds. The Aussie’s delivered pop-punk beats and killer lyrics to their fans, basking in the excitement of playing in the city for the first time. Frontwoman Mikaila Delgado jumped and danced across the stage as she belted out lyrics from the group’s latest release Afterglow. They ended their portion with their most popular track “High Hopes,” with the lyrics “You can be my hero” echoing throughout the space.

Hot Mulligan tore up the stage with Midwest-emo vibes and driving rhythms. Head-banging ensued, Xs on the back of most of the wrists raised high in the air as the Michigan natives played tracks such as the oh-so-soft “I Fell In Love With Princess Peach” to body-moving “Scream Mountain.” They left the stage leaving promises of a return to the city, and chants of “one more song” from their loving audience.

Between bands, more people began to file in, the number of minors and adults evening out as the night progressed. A nostalgia-filled night was about to take place because the headliner has been around for eighteen years, many of the attendees had grown up listening to the post-hardcore, pop-punk band.

Senses Fail entered the stage to shouts of praise and “I’m feeling 17 again!” One patron became so excited, he tossed his beer into the air, which landed on the unsuspecting concertgoers below with a few droplets making it to the stage.

Older tracks from the New Jersey-based troop’s debut EP were up first. The band played the entirety of the album, a few of those tracks only ever being heard on the current tour. Die-hards sang every word and moshed to every deep cut, these were the fans that had supported them from the beginning, and they wanted you to know it.

Slowing it down with two acoustic tracks “Lady In A Blue Dress” and “Family Tradition,” the lull was a much-needed break. Fans swayed back and forth, some with tears in their eye’s as lead singer James “Buddy” Nielsen sang of love and the heartaches of growing up and living in a strained household: “My father taught me first-hand how to be set free:/ Give up and run away!/ I wish I could drain out his half of blood in me/ But, I’d still have his face.”

The five-piece ended their main set with a “Can’t Be Saved,” taken from their 2006 release Still Searching, and later an encore consisting of a cover of Suicidal Tendencies’ “Institutionalized” and original “Bite To Break Skin,” but not before Nielsen delivered a touching sentiment to the band’s onlookers.

“Never live a life you don’t love.”