Combining punchy emo-punk and sweeping, violin-led alternative rock, Yellowcard’s distinctive sound has helped make the Jacksonville, Florida band one the more popular acts to emerge from the fertile 2000s pop-punk scene. The group found mainstream success in 2003 after their fourth album, Ocean Avenue, went platinum on the strength of the chart-topping title cut. Yellowcard issued ten albums, including Billboard-charting efforts like Lights and Sounds (2005), Paper Walls (2007), and Southern Air (2012), before ceasing operations in 2016. Returning from a seven-year hiatus, the band issued the EP Childhood Eyes in 2023, followed by the 2024 collaboration A Hopeful Sign with the post-rock duo Hammock.
Yellowcard formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997 but didn’t solidify their lineup until a move to Southern California in early 2000. Comprised of vocalist/guitarist Ryan Key, backing vocalist/violinist Sean Mackin, guitarist Ben Harper, drummer Longineu Parsons, and bassist Warren Cooke, the band officially debuted on wax in 2001 with One for the Kids and returned a year later with the Underdog EP on Fueled by Ramen. The group had a big year in 2003, replacing Cooke with Pete Mosely, signing with Capitol, issuing Ocean Avenue on the label, and heading out for a series of Warped Tour dates. In late 2004, Ocean Avenue was certified double platinum by the RIAA, and singles such as ‘Way Away,’ ‘Only One,’ and the title track continued to impact MTV and Top 40 radio for the rest of the year.