The summer was officially concluded by Fall Out Boy coming to Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, Aug. 31 to tour their most recent album, M A N I A.

It has been a while since the band had made a stop in Connecticut, so I was happy to see their return. This stop would be the second date on the Mania Tour 2, the U.S. leg of the previous tour with the same name finished up in late 2017.

I was very excited to see them again, as this was my fourth Fall Out Boy show and they were bringing some very special guests with them; Against the Current, an up and coming alternative band and Machine Gun Kelly, a rapper.

Upon arrival and entry into the casino, you already know who’s there to see Fall Out Boy. From band shirts and converse to all-out purple outfits and makeup (as purple is a theme in the latest album’s aesthetic) these kids are wearing their pride for this band all over them, and that feeling is contagious.

After all security lines are completed you enter the arena, and if you’re me, you head straight for the merch table which has a mile long line. The wait was worth it; I got my shirt.

On to the actual show.

The first people up were Against the Current, they’re currently signed to Fueled By Ramen — a label most 2000’s bands have been on (think Fall Out Boy, Paramore and Twenty One Pilots) with their second album to come out later this month.

They were the opener I was most excited to see, so when I was in the merch line and the TV’s above the merch table turned on to reveal their set had started I was anxious to get my stuff and get to my seat.

I eventually did, and that’s where my problem with their set begins. I had stood in that merch line for maybe 10 minutes after they had gone on, yet by the time I got to my seat, the song they were in the middle of ended and the lead singer, Chrissy Costanza, expressed her gratitude and let the audience know they had only two songs left (and that they were going to pull their merch from the table after their set so go get it now).

While what Against the Current did play was good, I was shocked their set was so short — it only seemed like four songs long. The set time only seemed shorter after Machine Gun Kelly came on. Kelly performed for almost an hour. And while I was intrigued by the thought of hearing Kelly perform the combination of the lights, fog, and again, the set time of almost an hour made me and my friend who was with me lose focus in the show.

At one point my friend texted me “can you understand anything he’s saying?” To which I replied, “the last thing I heard was: ‘2012 was a great year.’”

That was probably two songs ago from that moment. I feel that if the set times matched the experience would’ve been more enjoyable. But don’t get me wrong, lots of people down on the floor loved his part. To each their own.

Finally, Fall Out Boy took the stage. They opened with “Disloyal Order of Water Buffalo,” the opening track from their fourth studio album Folie à Deux. The track has not been performed since 2013 and 2014, and I have never heard it live in person so let me tell you, it was great. The rest of the concert featured their hits from the last 13 years. “Sugar We’re Goin Down,” “Dance, Dance,” “This Ain’t a Scene…,” “I Don’t Care” and “Centuries.”

But old songs were not the only ones on this list. Stay “Frosty Royal Milk Tea” was played, as well as “Wilson (Expensive Mistakes).” Both of these songs are from their latest album. And I cannot forget “Lake Effect Kid.” This song was a demo that was written in 2008 that was finally finished up and released about a week before this tour started.

Fall Out Boy is a band who does not change much of their setlist up per show. Some songs are permanent, some change. Let me just say I was very pleased with the setlist they made for this tour. However, music was not the only entertainment of the night.

Near the end of the show, there was an “intermission” so to speak. During that part, the guys went off stage and Frosty and Royal Milk Tea — two llamas that have been characters in this album’s marketing campaign — came on stage to throw shirts into the screaming crowd. Before they walked on a short video played with them critiquing the band (think how the two old men muppets talk, that’s how the llamas do) which included jokes like, “well the show isn’t that bad,” “No it’s all bad” from those two. After their little stint, they went backstage and Fall Out Boy came back to finish the show.

The show was wonderful — everything I could ask for. The lights, the visuals behind them, and I even got some confetti to take home with me. Another Fall Out Boy show is in the books for me, and just know I’ll be waiting for the next time they come around here or a surrounding city.

And if you get the chance, see Fall Out Boy in concert. You might know more of their songs than you think, and you’ll hear a few new ones too.

And honestly, why should you say no to a concert?