Yellowcard performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Aug. 2, 2023. Chloe Catajan/STAFF.

SAN FRANCISCO — It may as well have been a throwback to Warped Tour along the Embarcadero. Recently reformed pop-punkers Yellowcard led an emo-centric bill in downtown San Francisco that included Mayday Parade, Anberlin and This Wild Life Wednesday at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

“Welcome ladies and gentleman to the biggest show we’ve ever played in San Francisco,” singer-guitarist Ryan Key said.

The sets were tight, the energy high and the appreciation in the room was evident. Yellowcard is already in the midst of its most ambitious tour ever, and Bill Graham was one of the largest venues on the tour. A massive expanse of fans crowded the floor and flooded up into the balcony.

Yellowcard performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Aug. 2, 2023.

“How are we doing up top?” Key asked. “We’re playing big enough places that we have an ‘up-top’ now.”

While the show was a celebration of the band’s acclaimed Ocean Avenue record, the set was inclusive of the hits and singles across its catalog, an “eras tour,” if you will.  Yellowcard launched off with the energetic “Way Away” and “Breathing.” In all about half of the songs came from the smash album. Key was the band’s heartbeat, earnestly delivering his lines, but also when he spoke to the crowd.

He addressed fans often, as well as the band’s crew and bandmates, with deep appreciation.

“The friendship, the positivity, the gratefulness, it’s higher than it’s ever been in our entire career,” he said. He also thanked Mayday Parade, which brought him on tour after Yellowcard initially split. Key said that support is what helped bring his band back to life.

Yellowcard performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Aug. 2, 2023.

The large tour meant a large-scale production. The stage offered a kaleidoscope of color, from tall video projection screens to flashing strobes and large spotlights. While Yellowcard is synonymous with pop-punk, its sound is more dynamic than that. Violinist and backing vocalist Sean Mackin provided consistent energy throughout the performance. Guitarist Ryan Mendez added impressive solos along the way.

It wasn’t all nostalgia, though. The band is making new music. “Childhood Eyes” mixed the punk aesthetic with musical and lyrical maturity that’s come in the two decades since the band was playing in garages.

Key reflected on that before “Back Home.”

“The one thing that we all remember, and that we’ll never forget, is each and every one of you and your love and support,” he said. “The fact that you’re still here 20 years later singing those thirteen songs with us every night.”

Mayday Parade performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Aug. 2, 2023.

Fans raised their cell phones, illuminating the room for “Only One.” Of course, Yellowcard closed out its set with “Ocean Avenue.” Much like the band, the song seems to have taken on another life. The youthful yearning to escape your hometown is a fairly common lyrical theme for pop-punk and this track has become the standard bearer of that message. The San Francisco crowd roared its approval, singing along with Key to every word.

A trio of bands opened the night, playing 30 to 40 minutes each with quick set changes to keep the momentum moving, much like Warped Tour. The Emo Nite Brooklyn DJ set spun pop-punk hits between sets to keep the crowd warm and singing. Mayday Parade, who like Yellowcard are from Florida, played new songs “Got Me All Wrong” and “More Like a Crash,” with singer Derek Sanders declaring “Emo is alive and well in 2023!”

The band opened with “Oh Well, Oh Well,” off its self-titled album, though the majority of the set came from A Lesson in Romantics, with closing tracks “Jersey” and “Jamie All Over.”

Anberlin performs at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on Aug. 2, 2023.

Anberlin brought a melodic alt-rock sensibility to the bill. Also from Florida, the band is playing songs from its latest EP, Convinced. Opening with “Never Take Friendship Personal,” it took a journey across its catalog over the seven-song set. Shrouded on stage by red lights, the members wore marching white outfits. Singer Stephen Christian joked the band could have been anything from the Backstreet Boys to a group of painters. Christian’s vocals were sharp and Anberlin played a set heavy on riffs and energy

This Wild Life, which is from Long Beach, Calif. and not from Florida, opened the show. The duo played acoustic songs and offered off the evening’s highlights with its jokes and emo puns flowing. Regaling stories of forming the band while working at a Guitar Center—and then getting fired for using the copier to make show fliers—Kevin Jordan and Anthony Del Grosso were fantastic. Jordan referred to his band as both “Discount Dashboard Confessional” and “Hot Topic Mumford & Sons.”

Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald. Follow Chloe Catajan at Instagram.com/riannachloe.