Groundhog Day with JIMMY EAT WORLD!

After some awaited the appearance of the Groundhog, Tampa rockers awaited the appearance of
Jimmy Eat World at the Ritz Ybor. Like most teenagers in 2001, I too was obsessed with Jimmy Eat World’s breakout hit “The Middle.” However, not everyone was caught singing the words into their curling iron by their best friend coming to pick them up for school, but what can I say, that song was as addicting and catchy as the rest of Jimmy Eat World’s music.

Ten years later JEW is touring once again to play hits off of their 2010 release “Invented,” and they stopped at The Ritz Ybor to give their fans a night to remember. I saw Jimmy Eat World in 2004 after they released “Futures” and they rocked it, for this Wednesday night I expected nothing less and they delivered.

The Ritz Ybor was packed but with enough room to move and dance freely. The crowd was ready and as soon as they hit that stage, immediately hitting the crowd with “Bleed American” everyone went crazy. They have quite the loyal crowd as it seemed that everyone there knew most of the words of the diverse set list.

The amazing thing about Jimmy Eat World is that the stories they tell are so simple and succinct, but can move mountains when you listen to them in the right scenario. Although they are labeled as an Alternative Rock band, their lyrics border on slightly Emo and the melodies parallel punk from time to time. They are unique indeed, and their poetic tales can make anyone feel better even with a somber sounding tune. JEW can make their listeners feel empowered by the fact that they are describing that feeling you hate feeling and that moment that you thought only you had ever reveled in, with a catchy chorus and a tune that will stick with you for weeks on end.

The lighting displays, with crazy colors and hanging, diamond-shaped mirrors to reflect every change, complimented every single song differently, allowing you, at times, to feel as though it was just you and the band alone at the Ritz Ybor. The audience was rocking as hard as the band. When Jim Adkins commanded attention with his sweet and dynamic vocals ignited the energy in the crowd!

Jimmy Eat World has the ability to paint a picture or even play a video with every song they play. You can literally see the story play out in your mind as they play each note and sing each line. The show was intensely hypnotic in all the right ways. And I’d never really thought of JEW as a kind of romantic band until I noticed the many couples wrapped up together, some even dancing on each other having an amazing time.

Although the drinks were definitely flowing, the crowd was pretty mellow. Jimmy Eat World definitely revved up the crowd and got them moving but everyone, including the band, was so concentrated on the music that it was just one, big rock-along!

Halfway through the set when they played “Futures,” they really hit their stride on stage and continued to impress the fans with selections of older songs, recent ones and everything in between keeping the audience eager and wanting more.

From the loud and wild pieces, to the slower dulcet songs the energy level never lowered on or offstage. To end with a mighty roar they played “Goodbye Sky Harbor,” and the crowd applauded them with such volume that JEW really had no choice but to oblige and return to the stage. After all, we hadn’t heard “The Middle” quite yet and they couldn’t leave their fans without that gem.

Still keeping the crowd on their toes, they played “Invented” the title track of their latest album. Just after they finally played the one we all fell in love with a decade ago, “The Middle” and the fans went ballistic. I think we sang more than the band for that one. Last but not least they left us with “Sweetness,” which made me feel like a teenager again and prompted me to immediately get out my Jimmy Eat World CDs as soon as I got home.

Whether or not you’re an avid fan or just picked up a few of their hits here and there, a Wednesday night with Jimmy Eat World is definitely the best push to the weekend I can recommend. It was a great show, a great set, and a great collaboration of fans and the band to make this Groundhog day one to remember. And yes, I will be dancing around singing Jimmy Eat World at least for the rest of February, if not for another decade to come!