LIVE FROM THE PIT: A Day To Remember and Split Chain

In a rare event for Glasgow, the sun was shining, and the heat had already turned the day into a sweaty one. Despite this, as we approached the O2 Academy, people were already filtering inside for a chance to witness Jeremy McKinnon up close. This show marked the first stop on A Day To Remember’s UK and Europe Tour, celebrating the release of ‘Big Ole Album Vol. 1’, and supported by fellow Slam Dunk 2025 lineup members Split Chain. Renowned for their fusion of metalcore and pop-punk, as well as their high-energy, interactive live shows, they’ve cemented themselves as a cornerstone in the alternative space since the release of their 2009 album ‘Homesick’. Having founded their own festival, ‘Self-Help Fest’ in 2014 and sold out countless tours over their career, we had to take the opportunity to see them in action ourselves. 

As the lights came down, the unmistakable “WAZZUP!” scene from the 2000s classic ‘Scary Movie’ echoed through the venue, instantly setting a nostalgic tone for the night. New to the scene but rising fast, nu-metal outfit Split Chain stormed the stage to a warm welcome before a satisfying segue into ‘Haven’. Their second song, ‘Subside’, brought with it an early attempt at a circle pit, which quickly fizzled out; this was a recurring theme throughout their set. They powered through with tracks such as ‘bored. tired. torn’ and ‘Future’, before frontman Bert Martinez-Cowles took a moment to thank the headliners, joking that “our teenage selves are crying right now”. Whilst the crowd remained half-hearted and the vocals occasionally were drowned out, Split Chain never let their enthusiasm and energy drop. Their relentless passion paid off, leading to a successful wall of death during their closing song, ‘I’m Not Dying To Be Here’, leaving on a high.

When A Day To Remember took to the stage, they quite literally did so with a bang, launching into ‘Make It Make Sense’ with scorching blasts of flames timed to the beat. The energy rapidly escalated as they paraded into fan-favourites ‘I’m Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?’ and ‘2nd Sucks’, igniting the pit into utter chaos. While introducing ‘Bad Blood’ from their newest album, they joked that it was a cover of a Taylor Swift song, drawing joyous laughter from the crowd.

The momentum briefly dropped during ‘Rescue Me’, their 2019 collaboration with Marshmello. This felt like a strange detour, and its lighter, electronic-infused sound disrupted the overall energy of the set. To match the more relaxed atmosphere created, giant monochrome beach balls were sent bouncing across the crowd. Shortly after, guitarist Kevin Scaff teased a snippet of ‘Walk’ by Pantera, before Jeremy shut it down with a grin and blasted into their cover of ‘Since U Been Gone’. The energy continued with ‘All My Friends’, preceded by them asking the crowd who was here with their loved ones and a round of cheers. One of the band members scuttled onstage in a Super Mario onesie and began firing a t-shirt gun across the venue, with the lucky few in the crowd triumphantly holding up their spoils throughout the song.

The band kept the momentum high, continuing a trend from their North American tour and striking the first chords signalling a mashup of ‘You Be Tails, I’ll be Sonic’ and arguably their most iconic track, ‘Mr Highway’s Thinking About the End’. The pit had an energy unlike any other as Jeremy screamed the legendary line: “Disrespect your surroundings!” The performance of ‘Resentment’ was especially impressive, given that Jeremy admitted that his in-ear monitor failed during the song. He joked, “Did I sound like shit?”, and praised Alex Shelnutt’s high-hat for keeping him in-time. Leaning into the teenage nostalgia much of the audience was undoubtedly feeling, paper rolls were launched across the crowd during ‘All Signs Point To Lauderdale’, entangling and arming the pit. The main set wrapped with the beloved ‘All I Want’, and they left for a brief break before returning for the encore.

They began with a stripped-back version of ‘If It Means A Lot To You’, encouraging the room to raise their phone torches and lighters. Mid-song, a fan got engaged, leading to a spontaneous and emotional first dance in the pit with much of the audience sitting down. They then shifted to playing ‘Flowers’, which struggled to lift the crowd after such an emotional ballad. Thankfully, the energy returned full-force with the closer, ‘The Downfall Of Us All’. The instantly recognisable chanting at the beginning elevated the energy in the room, ending the night on an unforgettable high.

Even after more than 2 decades in the industry, they are still consistently showing up with the energy of their youth. With Split Chain setting the tone and A Day To Remember blending incredible crowd connection, nostalgia, and impressive technical skill, this night was a true reminder as to why they’ve remained top of their game and will continue to do so.

Words: Chloe Sodeau

Photos: Kieran Atkinson