On Sunday, the New England Patriots will compete in the Super Bowl after again breezing through the NFL playoffs. And on Thursday, Fall Out Boy played a rollicking show for a horde of lip-pierced San Francisco emo kids. I’m sorry, what year is it?

It may feel like we’re back in the mid-2000s, but the turn of events isn’t as unexpected in 2026 as one might expect. Much like the AFC champions, Fall Out Boy may have had some lean years, but they never really went away. 

Fall Out Boy has quietly been one of the most successful bands of the 21st century. They have managed to remain a household name, even in an era when rock music has lost its cultural cache (that is until Beyoncé’s rumoured rock album debuts). Last summer, Billboard ranked Fall Out Boy at No. 100 on their list of the most successful artists of the century — one of just six rock bands to make the cut. Taylor Swift tapped the band for a collaboration in 2023 during the height of the Eras Tour hysteria.

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Tickets for the San Francisco show, which took place at the Regency Ballroom, were only available to Wells Fargo Autograph cardholders. Partnering with a trademarked credit card may not be the most punk rock move the band could have made. But their loyal fan base didn’t seem to mind. The “faithful” — as bassist Pete Wentz called them — were out in force for the rare chance to see the band in a 1,400-capacity venue.

Bass guitarist Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, right, performs at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Feb. 5, 2026.

Concertgoers watch Fall Out Boy perform at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Feb. 5, 2026.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy........

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