William Ryan Key has made his return to Boston, and this time he brought along some new friends.
Alongside tourmates Cory Wells and Selfish Things, Key took to the snowy Brighton Music Hall this past Sunday for an intimate show.
First up for the night was Wells, a solo act consisting of the Los Angeles native and his acoustic guitar.
“This is my first national tour and I’ve wanted to travel for a long time so I really want to thank [Ryan Key] for giving me the opportunity to do that.”
Though Wells was a newcomer, that did not stop the crowd from becoming fully immersed in his music. In fact, many audience members knew his songs, and sang along to every one. Even his newer tracks, “Lost” and “Patience.”
But no song moved Wells’ audience more than the heartbreaking “End of a Good Thing,” during which one concertgoer yelled “I’m going to cry!”
At the end of his set Wells also paused to promote his fellow tourmates.
“If you want I have some merch in the back, and if you don’t like me, buy from someone else,” he joked. “ It’s really just for our gas and our food.”
Wells then left the stage and was replaced- after a brief intermission- by the four piece pop rock band Selfish Things.
Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Selfish Things is made up of vocalist Alex Biro, rhythm guitarist Cam Snooks, lead guitarist Michael Ticar, and drummer Jordan Trask.
“We’re from Toronto Ontario. You have a better hockey team,” Biro joked after the band played their opening songs. “I don’t like admitting it but it’s true.”
With two EPs under their belt and an album in the works, Selfish Things are no strangers to the music industry- though they are relatively new to the Boston scene.
But, much like with Wells, their newness did not stop the crowd from singing along as loud as they could to the tracks they knew, which included the band’s single “Flood,” and older hit “Good Morning, Miss America.”
About halfway through the bands set, Biro took the stage solo with a keyboard and played a few acoustic piano versions of the band’s songs, which included the crowd favorite “Without You.”
The band then rejoined Biro for an energetic full band performance of their hard hitting song “Five Years.”
“Thank you all for coming out and watching our set today,” the band’s frontman announced to the crowd towards the end of their set. “I know the world can be a weird place, but we don’t care if you’re a republican or a democrat, gay or straight, male or female, or anything in between. What we care about is that we are all humans and we’re all here enjoying music and having a good time. So thank you.”
Shortly after Selfish Things finished up, headliner William Ryan Key took over, armed with an acoustic guitar and met with a wave of excitement and applause from the now aptly warmed up crowd.
“I know those of you who have known me long enough know me as Ryan Key, but I assure you the banner behind me isn’t just for self promotion,” Key laughed as he gestured to the banner reading WILLIAM RYAN KEY behind him. “William Ryan Key is my full legal name. But you can call me Ryan.”
Key, who formerly was the lead singer for the pop-punk band Yellowcard, used the stage to let fans in on a little bit of what happened after the band broke up in 2017.
“For about a year after Yellowcard, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. And as most of you know, I don’t have a label, so everything I’m doing is independent,” Key shared. “But during that time I wrote an EP called “Thirteen,” and that’s what’s brought me here today.”
Key then serenaded the crowd with his emotionally packed song “Old Friends,” telling the story of his time in Yellowcard and the friends he’s lost since the band’s beginning.
Joining Key on stage were his keyboardist and actor Patrick Heusinger and other Yellowcard alumni, guitarist Josh Portman.
They also got support from Selfish Thing’s Trask, who helped fill in as drummer.
In addition to his EP “Thirteen,” Key has also recently released his second EP titled “Virtue.”
The crowd swayed and sung along as Key serenaded them with songs from both EPs, including “Vultures,” “Bowry,” and “Mortar and Stone.”
But nothing got the crowd as excited as Key’s Yellowcard covers, which included “Keeper,” “MSK,” “Only One,” and the crowd favorite, “Ocean Avenue.”
While Key is no stranger to touring, the Virtue Tour marks his first headlining tour since Yellowcard’s breakup, and also his first tour with a full band.
Previously Key has toured as a solo acoustic act opening for Mayday Parade’s Sunnyland Tour, and a European tour with fellow acoustic act This Wild Life.
You can see more photos from the Virtue Tour in our gallery below, and check out Cory Wells, Selfish Things, and William Ryan Key on the remaining stops of Virtue Tour.
AND be sure to catch up on all things Selfish Things, by checking out our interview with lead singer Alex Biro here.
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