Fall Out Boy Rocks San Francisco Emo Fans

The pop-punk veterans return to the Bay Area for a surprise show ahead of the Super Bowl

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Fall Out Boy, one of the most successful bands of the 21st century, played a surprise show for a horde of emo fans in San Francisco on Thursday. The band, which has quietly remained culturally relevant, performed at the intimate Regency Ballroom for a crowd of loyal fans, some of whom were born long after the band's heyday in the mid-2000s. The show came just days before Fall Out Boy's musical idols, Green Day, are scheduled to open the Super Bowl on Sunday in nearby Santa Clara.

Why it matters

Fall Out Boy's continued success and relevance in the music industry, even as rock music has lost some of its cultural cache, is a testament to the enduring appeal of emo and pop-punk music. The band's ability to attract a multigenerational audience, including younger fans who weren't even born when the band was at its peak, highlights the timeless nature of their music and the staying power of the emo subculture.

The details

The San Francisco show was only available to Wells Fargo Autograph cardholders, a move that may not have been the most "punk rock" decision, but the loyal fan base didn't seem to mind. The band played a mix of hits from their early albums, including "Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy" and the genre-defining "Sugar, We're Goin Down." Despite the band members now being in their 40s, the audience was a mix of elder millennials and younger fans, proving that scene kids don't belong to any one generation.

  • Fall Out Boy played a show at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
  • Green Day, Fall Out Boy's musical idols, are scheduled to open the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara.

The players

Fall Out Boy

An American pop-punk band that has been one of the most successful acts of the 21st century, with three platinum-selling albums and a loyal fan base that has endured even as rock music has lost some of its cultural cache.

Patrick Stump

The lead singer of Fall Out Boy, who has been with the band since its inception in 2003.

Pete Wentz

The bassist of Fall Out Boy, who has been with the band since its inception in 2003.

Green Day

A Bay Area punk rock band that has been a major influence on Fall Out Boy, and is scheduled to open the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

Billie Joe Armstrong

The lead singer of Green Day, whose stage presence Patrick Stump has compared to a "midair dunk from Michael Jordan."

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What they’re saying

“This song could drive, this song could vote.”

— Patrick Stump, Lead singer of Fall Out Boy (sfgate.com)

“Should we play a Bay Area thrash metal song that we learned in the car on the way over here?”

— Pete Wentz, Bassist of Fall Out Boy (sfgate.com)

What’s next

Fall Out Boy's performance at the Regency Ballroom comes just days before Green Day, the band's musical idols, are scheduled to open the Super Bowl on Sunday in nearby Santa Clara.

The takeaway

Fall Out Boy's surprise show in San Francisco highlights the enduring appeal of emo and pop-punk music, as the band continues to attract a multigenerational audience and remain culturally relevant even as rock music has lost some of its mainstream popularity. The band's ability to stay together and maintain a loyal fan base for over two decades is a testament to their musical talent and the timeless nature of their songs.