Jacksonville, FL · pop-punk

Yellowcard

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Violin-powered pop-punk — 'Ocean Avenue' at the actual ocean, and the violin still carries the hooks.

Yellowcard came together in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997 after its members met at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, taking their name from a running joke about handing out soccer-style yellow cards for party fouls. The early lineup had Ben Dobson on vocals, Todd Clary on guitar, Ben Harper on guitar, Warren Cooke on bass and Longineu Parsons III on drums, with Ryan Key and Sean Mackin brought in as guests.

Dobson was eventually replaced by Key, a shift that pushed the band's sound from hardcore punk toward pop-punk. Early records like Midget Tossing, Where We Stand and the Still Standing EP led to a deal with Lobster Records and the album One for the Kids, followed by the Fueled by Ramen EP The Underdog, with Pete Mosely replacing Cooke on bass along the way.

Signed to Capitol Records, the band recorded Ocean Avenue in early 2003, releasing it that July. The title track and 'Only One' became double platinum and platinum sellers respectively under RIAA certification, with 'Only One' and the following album, Lights and Sounds, both certified gold.

Paper Walls and When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes extended the catalogue across ten studio albums in total, the last a self-titled record in 2016 before the band disbanded. The lineup by then was Key, guitarist Ryan Mendez, bassist Josh Portman and Mackin, still the only original member.

A reunion was announced in May 2022, bringing the Childhood Eyes EP in 2023 and an eleventh studio album, Better Days, in 2025.

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pop-punk