Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
In late October, popular multi-platinum selling rock band Fall Out Boy (Patrick Stump, Pete Wentz, Joe Trohman, and Andy Hurley) released their new live DVD, The Boys of Zummer Tour: Live in Chicago. The DVD was filmed at their hometown show in Chicago, one of the band’s 39 stops during their 2015 North American tour. The band hit the road following the release of their platinum-certified sixth studio album, American Beauty/American Psycho, which spawned hit singles “Centuries,” “Uma Thurman,” and “Irresistible.”
The DVD does a fine job of capturing the high energy show. Following the opening video sequence, 
the band launches into the song that put them on the map, “Sugar, We’re Goin Down.” You know you have a lot of hit songs under your belt when you can come out the gate with one of your biggest and keep the audience engaged for the remainder of the show.
Along with shots of the massive crowd, each band member receives a fair amount of screen time as they power through their lively 80-minute show, which only slowed down ever-so-slightly for a quick two-song acoustic set, where Stump, Wentz, and Trohman moved to a smaller stage among their audience for a sing-along in the rain.
The show picks back on the main stage with a vigorous performance of “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” resulting in a loud round of cheers from the crowd. Feeding off of the crowd’s unwavering energy, Fall Out Boy roared through the rest of their set, including recent hits “Centuries” and “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” and fan favorites “Dance, Dance,” “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs,” and “I Don’t Care.”
Included as a bonus feature on the DVD are three music videos: “Centuries,” “Uma Thurman,” and “Irresistible.”
Watching the DVD with the audio set to Dolby Digital Stereo (the other two audio options: Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Surround Sound) made for an enjoyable experience. The mix sounded balanced, and neither the music or vocals overpowered one another. The stage design for this tour worked well in that it allowed the band members to move around with ease. The background imagery, lights, and pyrotechnics production provided a solid ambience, didn’t distract from the music, and looks great on various screens (smart TV and laptop).
Although performance DVDs can’t entirely replace the experience of attending a live show, Fall Out Boy’s The Boys of Zummer Tour: Live in Chicago provides their fans an opportunity to rock out at home with all of their biggest hits in one place.
Fall Out Boy’s The Boys of Zummer Tour: Live in Chicago is available now on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital formats.
