Yellowcard

Emerging out of Jacksonville, Florida, in 1997, the American pop-punk outfit Yellowcard went on to drastically overhaul their sound and lineup before eventually settling on a five-piece formation. Making the unconventional decision to oust lead singer Ben Dobson in 2000, following the release of their formative hardcore punk albums Midget Tossing (1997) and Where We Stand (1999), the group invited occasional backing vocalist Ryan Key to take up the mantle as their new frontman. Shifting toward a more commercial sound while continuing to utilise violinist Sean Mackin, they inked successive deals with Lobster Records and Fueled By Ramen, with whom they released their third album, One for the Kids (2001), and their Underdog EP (2002) respectively. This led to a deal with Capitol Records, who oversaw the band’s breakthrough with their fourth LP, Ocean Avenue. Aided by various TV and video game placements, the album entered the Billboard 200 at number 23, later becoming certified platinum in the United States. Following further lineup changes, the band returned in 2006 with Lights and Sounds, which outsold its predecessor in the short-term, entering the Billboard 200 at number five but only reaching an RIAA gold certification. After an operation on Key’s vocal cords and a third album, 2007’s Paper Walls, the group took a two-year hiatus, returning with four more albums – all of which entered the Billboard top 30 – before breaking up in 2017. Yellowcard reunited for a festival performance on September 17, 2022, and released the EP Childhood Eyes in 2023. A Hopeful Sign followed in 2024, featuring a number of older songs reimagined as neo-classical pieces with help from the ambient duo Hammock.