Picture this: it's April 2017, Fall Out Boy starts tweeting some purple, shady stuff and thus the MANIA era was born. Fast forward through one single release, an album announcement, a mini-tour announcement, two single releases, an album delay, a mini MANIA tour, three more single releases, the album release, and another tour announcement, and eventual second tour; a lot of things have transpired over the last year and a half for Fall Out Boy. They have brought a feeling of mania to the world and our playlists and have really added to their culture and presence as a band.
When they announced their first round of tour and they were doing something special for Chicago, I was pumped. It was going to be GA and in their city and I was just so excited. Needless to say, I sadly didn't get tickets and I was crushed. So when tickets came around for their second round of tour and they were doing something huge for Chicago again, nothing was standing in my way of getting there. The day tickets went on sale, it was literally the first day of the second semester, it was mid-lecture of my first class and my professor had a strict no technology rule. I couldn't tell you how I snagged field tickets to their Wrigley show but they were snatched and ready to go.
A week or so before the Wrigley show, they announced they were doing a special MANIA experience in a warehouse in Chicago. It was free (YAY) and it would be focused around their newest album, forming a specific feeling of mania. My amazing friend was able to somehow snag tickets (shoutout to Katie) and we had a time slot for the day of the concert.
Zoe Johnson
The MANIA experience was so cool and so purple. There were seven rooms designed to be about seven of the songs from the album. FOB even went all out and decorated the bathroom like their latest EP, "Lake Effect Kid," which is a love letter to Chicago. The experience was a place to take pictures, interact with other fans, and just really appreciate this era that FOB has curated for us.
Zoe Johnson
After the experience, my friend and I made our way to Wrigley to meet up with our other friend as the show was starting. Machine Gun Kelly and Rise Against opened for Fall Out Boy and it really got the crowd in the mood for the killer show we were about to have. FOB opened with "Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes" and things took off from there. They played 24 songs throughout the night from all of their albums and their new EP, Andy had a killer drum solo as Pete and Patrick made their way to the B stage, and they ended the night with "Saturday" just like they always do. Pete did most of the talking for the night but I think they were all speechless to be there. They told stories from when they used to live around the area and they were just so humbled to be playing Wrigley Field to some very lucky fans.
Zoe Johnson
Being at this show was so incredible and I'm getting goosebumps thinking about it again. Having an artist that's from the same place as you is so cool and knowing that they love your city the same way is an amazing feeling. I miss rocking out with my boys from Wilmette but I hope our paths will cross again soon. The MANIA era has been a wild ride and I feel super cool that I even got to be a part of it.
