Read more: Fan poll: 5 best punk vocalists of all time

With 2024’s lineup featuring My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and dozens of iconic album play sets, all we have to say is: Until next year, Las Vegas.

Bad Omens embark on “A Tour Of The Concrete Jungle”

Genre-bending rock titans Bad Omens are set to take on North America with a massive headlining run titled “A Tour Of The Concrete Jungle.” The tour features a stacked lineup, with Dayseeker, Make Them Suffer and Thousand Below. The tour comes on the heels of the release of Bad Omens’ stunning new album, THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND, so fans should expect to hear new material live as well as fan favorites from their impressive back catalog. Get tickets here.

Danny Elfman will ring in spooky season at the Hollywood Bowl

Legendary Oingo Boingo frontman, film composer and all-around renaissance man Danny Elfman is throwing one hell of a Halloween party Oct. 28 and 29 at the Hollywood Bowl. Across the two-day event, Elfman will perform music from his Oingo Boingo days as well as his iconic movie scores, including the 1989’s Batman and the cult classic Edward Scissorhands. Additionally, Elfman will perform select cuts from his most recent full-length, Big Mess, and a variety of compositions from his 40-plus-year career. At this point, Elfman has become synonymous with Halloween, and this event will surely give you chills. Tickets go on sale Aug. 27. 

Jinjer to make triumphant return to the U.S. for headlining tour

Ukrainian metal heroes Jinjer are a true testament to the power of music and perseverance. The quartet are set to take on the U.S. with an emotionally charged and victorious headlining tour, with support from rock legends P.O.D. Additionally, the tour will feature Vended (who are fronted by Corey Taylor’s son), Malevolence and Space Of Variations on select dates. Don’t miss the opportunity to support a great band and cause, as a portion of the tour’s proceeds will go directly to a Ukrainian charity. Grab tickets Aug. 26.

Lit and Hoobastank are going on tour? Now that’s pretty lit 

Lit and Hoobastank are joining forces for the nostalgia-packed co-headlining “Tried-N-True” tour this fall. Joining them are special guests Alien Ant Farm and Kristopher Roe of pop-punk legends the Ataris. If you’ve ever wanted to scream your lungs out to classic hits such as “My Own Worst Enemy” and “The Reason,” now’s your chance.

Rare Americans want you to know that “You’re Not A Bad Person” this fall

Rare Americans are not only celebrating the release of their introspective and visually stimulating new album You’re Not A Bad Person, It’s Just A Bad World. They’re also set to kick off their headlining tour this fall. The “You’re Not A Bad Person, It’s Just A Bad World” tour begins Sept. 7 in Seattle, Washington, and hits several cities across the U.S. before concluding in Boise, Idaho Oct. 25. Joining the band is indie-pop artist DYLYN, who will ensure an eclectic night of high-energy music. Tickets are going fast, with some of the dates already selling out, so make sure to snag them before they’re gone. 

Rodrigo hopped onstage during a local band’s set. The band’s drummer, Oliver James, shared the moment on Twitter, commenting: “Why yes Olivia Rodrigo, of course you can turn up at Bunny Jacksons on a bloody Sunday evening and play a song for a laugh before our 3rd set.”

Read more: Phoebe Bridgers, Olivia Rodrigo, more react to the end of Roe V. Wade

Why yes Olivia Rodrigo, of course you can turn up at Bunny Jacksons on a bloody Sunday evening and play a song for a laugh before our 3rd set. pic.twitter.com/mpMbpkRlLq

— OJB (@Oliver_james) July 4, 2022

“I’m dead sober,” Rodrigo announced to the bar’s patrons before saying that her band’s drummer persuaded her to get onstage. “Hayley’s making me do this.”

After her impromptu concert, Rodrigo returned to the audience and requested to hear Lit‘s “My Own Worst Enemy.”

This week, Rodrigo wraps up her Sour tour with two back-to-back dates in London. Check out the full performance at Bunny Jackson’s in Manchester below.

In addition, the band are heading on tour in May. Check out a full list of dates below and grab tickets here.

Read more: Lit announce ‘Tastes Like Gold’ release date, drop “Kicked Off The Plane”

Tastes Like Gold features collaborations from Carlo Colasacco (The Chainsmokers), YOUTHYEAR, Butch Walker and American Authors.

“We wanted to get back to the old-school Lit sound with a modern-day approach to the production,” lead guitarist Jeremy Popoff says in a press release. “It took a minute to get our heads in the right place, especially with all of the craziness going on in the world. We started writing and making demos with Carlo Colasacco and YOUTHYEAR, and we knew we had tapped into the vibe we were looking for. Tastes Like Gold is the album we wanted to make.”

Lit Spring Loaded U.S. tour dates

05/04 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop*
05/05 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
05/06 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverfront Live
05/07 – Buffalo, NY @ Showplace Theater*
05/08 – Warrendale, PA @ Jergels
05/10 – New York, NY @ (le) poisson rouge
05/11 – Hopewell, VA @ Beacon Theatre
05/12 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’
05/13 – Columbia, SC @ Savage Craft Ale Works
05/14 – Sanford, NC @ Wampus Cat Music Festival*
05/15 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ The Boathouse
06/02 – Millville, NJ @ Levoy Theatre*
06/03 – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall*
06/04 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Casino*

* = does not include Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts

Solo headline shows
06/10 – South Jordan, UT @ LiveDAYBREAK
06/11 – Redmond, OR @ General Duffy’s
06/17 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
06/25 – Middletown, PA @ Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey
07/02 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
08/12 – Maryville, TN@ The Shed Smokehouse
08/13 – Suwanee, GA @ Suwanee Town Center Park
08/20 – Sunbury, PA @ Spyglass Ridge Winery w/ Everclear
09/09 – Omaha, NE @ Shadow Ridge Music Festival w/ 311

Tastes Like Gold features collaborations from Carlo Colasacco (The Chainsmokers), YOUTHYEAR,  Adrian Young (No Doubt), Butch Walker and American Authors. It follows 2018’s These Are The Days. Preorder it here.

Read more: Lit announce Spring Loaded tour, release live video for “Yeah Yeah Yeah

Lit spoke about the single in a press release. “‘Kicked Off The Plane’ is a pretty literal song that practically wrote itself after a crazy layover in Chicago,” they say. “We got delayed for several hours coming back from a show and might have had a little too much time on our hands in the airport lounge.”

“We are super proud and stoked to finally be releasing this album,” the band add via Twitter. “It’s the record we wanted to make, and then some. We hope it makes you all as happy as it makes us, and we can’t wait to share these songs with you on the road this year.”

We are super proud and stoked to finally be releasing this album. It’s the record we wanted to make, and then some. We hope it makes you all as happy as it makes us and we can’t wait to share these songs with you on the road this year. https://t.co/YmNj8lXm2C pic.twitter.com/RS0FaxZUGl

— Lit (@LitBandOfficial) April 8, 2022

Lit will head out on their Spring Loaded U.S. tour in May, joined by Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts. Grab tickets here.

Check out the lyric video for “Kicked Off The Plane” below.

Lit Spring Loaded U.S. tour dates

05/04 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop*
05/05 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
05/06 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverfront Live
05/07 – Buffalo, NY @ Showplace Theater*
05/08 – Warrendale, PA @ Jergels
05/10 – New York, NY @ (le) poisson rouge
05/11 – Hopewell, VA @ Beacon Theatre
05/12 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’
05/13 – Columbia, SC @ Savage Craft Ale Works
05/14 – Sanford, NC @ Wampus Cat Music Festival*
05/15 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ The Boathouse
06/02 – Millville, NJ @ Levoy Theatre*
06/03 – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall*
06/04 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Casino*

* = does not include Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts

Solo headline shows
06/10 – South Jordan, UT @ LiveDAYBREAK
06/11 – Redmond, OR @ General Duffy’s
06/17 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
06/25 – Middletown, PA @ Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey
07/02 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
08/12 – Maryville, TN@ The Shed Smokehouse
08/13 – Suwanee, GA @ Suwanee Town Center Park
08/20 – Sunbury, PA @ Spyglass Ridge Winery w/ Everclear
09/09 – Omaha, NE @ Shadow Ridge Music Festival w/ 311

The band also dropped a new live video for their single “Yeah Yeah Yeah.”

Read more: Are the 2000s back? How Avril Lavigne, Chris Carrabba are uniting Gen Z and millennials

During the tour, Lit will be joined for various dates by Heart Attack Man and Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts. The band launch their run May 4 in Flint, Michigan and will conclude it June 4 at Mohegan Sun Casino.

Ahead of the U.S. tour, Lit will also join Bowling For Soup for a two-week U.K. tour in April. All dates are available for sale here.

Lit’s new live video is a rendition of their single, “Yeah Yeah Yeah,” following an official video released for the song in November 2021. The new visual comes as the band are at work on their seventh full-length, currently slated for a summer release. 

As if Lit weren’t busy enough, there are plenty of other things going on in their universe. The band revealed a four-part documentary-style podcast focused on their iconic track “My Own Worst Enemy.” During the episodes, they connect with music industry figures as well as musicians such as Butch Walker, Adrian Young of No Doubt and Noodles from the Offspring. Along the way, they capture the unique story of a song that has become part of rock legend.

Band members Ajay and Jeremy Popoff spoke about the threads that connect the band to their roots even as they continue to make music for a new era.

Read more: So What?! festival adds 100 Gecs, Hawthorne Heights, more to lineup

“The common thread that never changes with Lit is that you can tell the Popoff brothers are in the mix,” Jeremy says. “I’m still playing a Fender Telecaster or a Gibson Les Paul down to my knees, through a Marshall amp with an overdrive stompbox pedal, and Ajay still sounds like Ajay.”

Despite the continuities, the brothers also spoke on the ways they have continued to respond to new challenges, including the ways they offer a sense of escape in the COVID-19 era.

“We’ve taken everyone on a hell of a ride,” Ajay says. “Our fans have allowed us to follow whatever path we’ve chosen. Now, we really want them to feel like we delivered on this batch of songs.”

“When you’re listening to Lit, I hope you get to escape from the world for a little bit,” Jeremy adds. “We hope you feel like, ‘Damn. In the middle of the shit storm that was 2020 and 2021, these guys managed to dial it back to a more innocent time.’”

Check out Spring Loaded tour dates below. Visit here to learn more about the tour.

Lit Spring Loaded U.S. tour dates

05/04 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop*
05/05 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
05/06 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverfront Live
05/07 – Buffalo, NY @ Showplace Theater*
05/08 – Warrendale, PA @ Jergels
05/10 – New York, NY @Sony Hall^
05/11 – Hopewell, VA @ Beacon Theatre
05/12 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’
05/13 – Columbia, SC @ Savage Craft Ale Works
05/14 – Sanford, NC @ Wampus Cat Music Festival*^
05/15 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ The Boathouse
06/02 – Millville, NJ @ Levoy Theatre*^
06/03 – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall*^
06/04 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Casino*^

* = does not include Tuk Smith
^ = does not include Heart Attack Man

Pop punk is also at the height of its popularity, with some of the genre’s biggest bands dropping massive albums that year. Surely, even your bus driver recognizes your favorite bands. Here are the 16 best pop-punk albums released in 2001.

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Sum 41 – All Killer, No Filler

The snot-nosed, Canadian pop-punkers’ magnum opus dominated Total Request Live with tracks such as “Fat Lip” and “In Too Deep.” But it’s the Sum 41 album’s depth, with standouts such as “Rhythms” and “All She’s Got” helped it pass the test of time. There’s little variety here. Just 12 breakneck pop-punk songs produced by the legendary Jerry Finn triggering our nostalgia.  

blink-182 – Take Off Your Pants And Jacket

When bands strike gold, they often get too cute. They change course, experiment with new sounds and lose what made them great. Not blink-182. Take Off Your Pants And Jacket carbon copies the massively successful Enema Of The State with similar results. Arguing which is better is futile, like debating between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Both are GOATs. The album gifts fans 13 more quintessential blink-182 tracks, highlighted by the iconic guitar riff in “Anthem Part Two,” three excellent singles and maybe blink- 182’s most underrated song, “Every Time I Look For You.”

Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American

Jimmy Eat World weren’t an overnight success story. The band’s momentum built for years prior to Bleed American’s release in 2001. JEW toured with top acts. They released the atmospheric Clarity in 1999, which many fans surely still think is their best work. Bleed American’s influence can’t be overstated, as it was a gateway to pop punk for so many young fans. But it was only part, the defiant capstone, of Jimmy Eat World’s rise to fame.

Relient K –The Anatomy Of The Tongue In Cheek

Relient K’s second full-length is a 17-song marathon. Clocking in at 55 minutes, it remains one of the longer pop-punk albums released during that time. The band use the time well, with tracks about worship (“Those Words Are Not Enough”) to social justice (“Failure To Excommunicate”) and everything in between. The album’s most popular tune, “Sadie Hawkins Dance,” absolutely still kicks. 

The Ataris – End Is Forever

There’s something endearing about bands that bloom late. It took the Ataris four albums to crack the mainstream with their 2003 song “The Boys Of Summer.” It still earns spins on the radio. However, it was their 2001 release, End Is Forever, that set the stage for success, with “Fast Times At Drop-Out High” acting as the standout track. The album smoothly blends traditional punk with new-age pop punk. Give it a listen.

American Hi-Fi – American Hi-Fi 

American Hi-Fi’s debut album featured one of the genre’s biggest songs, “Flavor Of The Weak.” It cracked the top 50 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart while earning listens across the world. It’s still so damn catchy. Other songs such as “My Only Enemy” and “Another Perfect Day” are worth a revisit.

Yellowcard – One For The Kids 

So much nostalgia. One For The Kids was Yellowcard’s first album with singer Ryan Key. His songwriting and impressive pipes brought immediate change. “Drifting” and “Sureshot” are highlights, standing out among all the great pop-punk tracks of 2001. The album set the stage for the mainstream eruption of Ocean Avenue and Yellowcard’s incredible 13-year run that followed.

Sugarcult – Start Static

Start Static is the unsung pop-punk gem of 2001. It’s Sugarcult’s best overall work, loaded with standout tunes. “Stuck In America” features an epic opening guitar riff, with the oh-so-relatable theme about being young and wanting to skip town. “Lost In You” is a typical track about broken relationships, while “Bouncing Off The Walls” earned mainstream fame through the help of the movie Van Wilder. Its music video featured clips from the movie, starring Tara Reid and some guy named Ryan Reynolds.

Lit – Atomic 

Topping their 1999 commercial breakthrough A Place In The Sun was always going to be tough. But Lit’s 2001 encore, Atomic, is an admirable effort highlighted by its bouncy closing track, “Over My Head.” We can all sometimes relate to the simple line “I’m in over my head/Stuck in the red.”

Alkaline Trio – From Here To Infirmary 

Maybe 2001’s most affecting pop-punk record was Alkaline Trio’s From Here To Infirmary. And nobody better explains that than MOD SUN. From Here To Infirmary showcased the band’s songwriting prowess and knack for gothic aesthetics. In a long list of great pop-punk albums to come out of Chicago, Alkaline Trio’s third studio record is right at the top.

Weezer – Weezer (The Green Album) 

Always skilled at tweaking their sound to keep up with the times, Weezer jumped on the pop-punk train with their Green Album in 2001. It was a smash hit, going platinum by September of that year and putting Weezer back on the map after the criminally underrated Pinkerton flopped. “Hash Pipe” is a classic, while “Island In The Sun” is still one of the band’s biggest songs. The Green Album brought Weezer back from a hiatus, paving the way for two decades of success.

No Doubt – Rock Steady

Rock Steady reflected a sound change from the pop-punk titans No Doubt, focusing on electropop and dance hall. It’s experimental, with the band deviating from their standard instrumentals. Still, the album received rave reviews and opened the door for Gwen Stefani to attempt a solo career.

Rufio – Perhaps, I Suppose…

Rufio’s debut album captures adolescents in Southern California, a Frankenstein’s monster of pop punk, ska and metal. It’s the kind of record you jammed to in parking lots outside your high school football stadium while the cool kids wasted time at the game. You never needed to be popular. All that mattered was goofing off with good friends and Rufio on the Walkman.

Mest – Destination Unknown 

In their most successful album, Mest mix a variety of upbeat tracks with some excellent slow tunes. The instrumentals excel, and there are enough horns to satisfy ska fans. Destination Unknown is a happy medium between Goldfinger and Simple Plan. Take a trip back in time and give it a listen.

Lucky Boys Confusion – Throwing The Game 

While Fall Out Boy jammed in Chicago’s north suburbs, Lucky Boys Confusion made serious noise in the city’s Western burbs. Under Elektra Records, the band dropped their breakthrough album Throwing The Game in 2001. It’s a deep record, highlighted by the standout “Fred Astaire.” While Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” and bink-182’s “First Date” received mainstream fame, “Fred Astaire” was the best pop-punk song of 2001.

Hey Mercedes – Everynight Fire Works

After Braid, the popular emo band born on the campus of the University of Illinois, disbanded, most of its members formed Hey Mercedes. Their debut, Everynight Fire Works, was a success, anchored by the natural pop-punk vocals of Bob Nanna. The album compares well to fellow pop-punk/emo hybrids, such as Saves The Day and Thursday.

Read more: These 10 unknown ’90s bands will make you wonder what else you missed

Blind Melon

It’s nearly impossible to talk about Blind Melon’s history without mentioning the bumblebee girl from the self-titled album’s cover and the “you have to see it to believe it” music video for “No Rain.” Who would’ve thought that she would become a ’90s icon? Blind Melon brought the ’60s to the ’90s in a brilliant fashion and subsequently dominated radio. It’s a true tragedy that vocalist Shannon Hoon only had one more album left in him, as he unexpectedly passed away in 1995.

Chumbawamba

Is there truly a greater and more powerful bar anthem than 1997’s “Tubthumping”?  It’s definitely a difficult number to top. Chumbawamba ended up creating a more universally relatable song than pretty much every band who came before and after them. Naturally, this song would be heard at major athletic events, small and large parties and grimy pubs in perpetuity. Their label must have had a tough time sitting on this one.

Everclear

There are certainly some hitmakers here, but none quite like Everclear. You may not realize it, but stop for a minute and marvel over their catalog: The band have so many popular singles, it’s hard to deny their influence on the decade. “Santa Monica”? Smash. “Father Of Mine”? Everywhere. “Everything To Everyone”? We could go on for much, much longer. Vocalist/guitarist Art Alexakis tapped into the global pulse and composed material that resonated with the mid-’90s rock crowd stronger than most other bands. As the century turned, he could certainly afford to buy anyone a new life.

Fuel

Post-grunge is a thing, and Fuel perfectly hit the nail on the head with 1998’s megahit “Shimmer.” Their greatest achievement was being more than capable of composing beautifully tender ballads. Basically, there was truly something for unpretentious music fans from all walks of life with Fuel. 

Hole

Just before Hole’s track (and album) “Celebrity Skin” came out, Courtney Love was one album into rock semi-stardom—and 7,000,000 theories into the general public discussing her involvement in the death of her husband, Kurt Cobain. Love became a powerhouse rock goddess as soon as this song hit the airwaves and MTV. The production was much more stacked on this than previous Hole records, and the band’s fashion choices were definitely amped into more of the “high fashion” demographic.

Lit 

Not heavy enough for hardcore rockers and way too loud for the grocery store soundtrack demographic, Lit still found a way to have one gargantuan hit in “My Own Worst Enemy” and two minor ones in “Zip-Lock” and “Miserable.” Since then, the band showcased their mass appeal by playing at both the punk-as-fuck Warped Tour and the country-as-fuck Stagecoach Festival. Name another band who have done that, and then take your car out of our front yard.

Read more: Here are 10 bands from the ’90s you never heard and it’s a damned shame

The Rentals 

While the Rentals are definitely the smallest act here, the band managed to influence so many other groups to combine Moog synthesizers and guitar distortion. The recipe just worked perfectly, and the band clearly foreshadowed Motion City Soundtrack and many other acts in the mid-’00s. Many would describe the Rentals’ sound as quite Weezer-y (which makes sense given that the frontman is former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp) alt-pop. Fun fact: SNL’s Maya Rudolph used to play in the band as well. 

Soul Asylum

If you turned on MTV at some point during the early ’90s, this powerful music video seemed to be on repeat at least once an hour. And rightfully so, as “Runaway Train” was such a strong song with an important message. However, Soul Asylum were far from an overnight success: Their breakout hit “Runaway Train” was a single on the band’s sixth album, and it came out after the four-piece had already existed for 11 years.

The Verve

Speaking of iconic music videos, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” certainly takes the cake (or at least one of them). Possibly the biggest song here, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” can certainly be credited as the single that got the Verve over in America for the first time. At that point in the ’90s, the band were already huge in the United Kingdom and quite unknown in the States. In addition, it’s responsible for bringing the Rolling Stones to a much younger audience, as the song sampled an orchestral version of “The Last Time.”

The Wallflowers

Hot take that will truly bring down the horse: The Wallflowers’ Jakob Dylan is a much, much better singer than his father, Bob. When it was originally released, “One Headlight” launched their career and caused a strong positive reaction with alternative and soft-rock fans in the ’90s. In addition, the track also found a way to update its audience with a rousing scene in Pete Davidson’s recent film The King Of Staten Island.

But the music dates back decades, with staying power that outlasted most predictions. When New Found Glory embarked on their Pop Punk’s Not Dead tour in 2011, they probably didn’t realize the genre had so much life left. 

Read more: Here’s how you can watch MGK perform ‘Tickets To My Downfall’ in full

There’s so much more to its history than just the TRL or Warped Tour eras, though. So we’ve compiled them, the 25 most influential pop-punk songs. Now, we’ve tried to give each era fair representation. Yes, a bulk of the big hits came in the late ’90s and early 2000s. But other songs, which may be a smidge less popular or pop punk, helped the genre survive while fans tuned their ears elsewhere get a little more credit on this list.

The Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Bop”

The evidence is anecdotal, but most show enthusiasts will agree few songs are covered more frequently by scene favorites than the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” The song helped launch not only the band but a roaring New York punk scene that eventually spilled across the country. Featuring the “Hey, hos” and bubbly guitar riffs that made the band radio accessible, “Blitzkrieg Bop” serves as an early blueprint for how to package punk for pop culture. 

Buzzcocks – “Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?)”

Buzzcocks lived somewhere between Paul McCartney and the Sex Pistols. The pop punk we think of piggybacked off ’80s punk and emo, but it’s the Buzzcocks they mirror stylistically. Their songs were short, combining pop storytelling with a punk attitude. Buzzcocks were more polished and less political than the era’s punks with plenty of sappy, romantic songs. Yet, they still pushed punk aggression with more than a touch of adolescent humor (see: “Orgasm Addict”). It’s a tried-and-true recipe for success.   

Descendents – “Suburban Home”

If pop punk was conceived when the Ramones first performed “Blitzkrieg Bop” at a belligerent New York club, it was truly born six years later when Descendents released Milo Goes To College. The 22-minute sprint has been copied by bands for decades. Almost all the greats name-check this album. It’s both lyrically thoughtful and mundane, depending on the song. “Suburban Home” was the hit, fast and choppy without ever losing its bounce. Alternative rock would likely sound very different without Descendents’ most recognizable work. 

Bad Religion – “Suffer”

Pop punk failed to gain steam following Milo Goes To College. The hardcore scene owned the ’80s until Bad Religion sanded the edges with their third album, Suffer. “The record changed everything,” NOFX’s Fat Mike describes. He notes it “really changed the course of NOFX from being a hardcore band to a melodic hardcore band.” The album’s title track turned out to be its most popular, with its harmonized chorus and melodic singing foreshadowing a changing tide in the genre. 

Jawbreaker – “Want”

The punk, pop-punk, emo and post-hardcore scenes often run together. You can, in large part, thank the legendary Jawbreaker for that. Expanding on the flash-in-a-pan D.C. emo scene, the charismatic New Yorkers helped freeze the public’s eye on punk rock in the early ’90s when grunge owned the alternative stage. Their 1990 album, Unfun, is a beloved classic with its DNA still in countless bands. But “Want,” the opening track, was the first hit. It was Jawbreaker’s foot in the door. 

Pennywise – “Bro Hymn”

Like Bad Religion, Pennywise edge closer to the punk side of the pop-punk spectrum. But the band who performed at the first Warped Tour, later closing out the last, built on Suffer’s success with their debut self-titled album in 1991. Its highlight was “Bro Hymn” a soaring tune that offers the “whoahs” and substance often not found in traditional punk tracks. It’s also the last song ever performed on the final cross-country Warped Tour, in case you ever qualify for Jeopardy!. 

Green Day – “Longview”

Shortly before Jawbreaker hit pay dirt by touring with Nirvana in 1993, a young Billie Joe Armstrong crafted Green Day’s “Longview,” named after the Washington city with a population of less than 40,000 people, debuting it in 1992. Ironically, a song about boredom launched the careers of one of music’s most entertaining trios. “Longeview” became the first single off Dookie, the highest-selling pop-punk album of all time. Ah, the beginning of something special. 

MxPx – “Chick Magnet”

The first big wave of pop punk crashed ashore the music world in the mid-’90s. MxPx highlighted the era with the single “Chick Magnet,” a clear predecessor to New Found Glory, Simple Plan and others. The song’s bouncy guitar work and chunky bassline meshed with Mike Herrera’s nasally vocals makes it stop one on the road trip to 2000s pop punk. The band are often duplicated but never truly replicated. MxPx still churn out top-notch tunes 25 years later. 

No Doubt – “Just A Girl”

The importance of No Doubt’s breakthrough song is obvious but worth noting—a band with a frontwoman with a song about women’s empowerment finally made it. Women certainly influenced punk decades before Gwen Stefani. But there was something about “Just A Girl” that temporarily broke the misogyny, softening a music scene that rarely encouraged women to step into the spotlight. So much work still needs to be done to make pop punk more conducive to women. But No Doubt unquestionably paved the way for Paramore, We Are The In Crowd, Hey Monday and others with dynamite gals behind the mic.

blink-182 – “All The Small Things”

blink-182’s global hit served as a musical gateway drug for so many of us. It peaked at sixth on the Billboard Hot 100, blink’s highest spot ever. It’s the most popular tune on an album that was the band’s best-selling. Your older sibling probably slipped you a copy of Enema Of The State like it was contraband, or maybe you heard it at a middle school dance. Maybe your parents were wild enough to buy you the album? Thank them now. They did well. 

Lit – “My Own Worst Enemy”

While giants such as Creed, Limp Bizkit and blink-182 dropped hit after hit, no alternative-rock song earned more radio airplay in 1999 than Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy.” It cracked the soundtracks of movies and video games, a pop-punk battering ram smashing living room doors across the country. Lit didn’t enjoy the staying power of their peers. But “My Own Worst Enemy” still holds up. It’s been featured in popular comedies such as Parks And Recreation, Central Intelligence and Hulu’s PEN15. And, of course, still lives on alternative radio airwaves across the country. 

Jimmy Eat World – “The Middle”

At the crossroads of the pop-punk explosion and the ever-present emo scene was Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle.” The band’s masterful 1999 album, Clarity, drew praise from scene peers—Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba counts himself as a huge fan, and the band even performed the album’s songs at Tom DeLonge’s wedding reception. But “The Middle” took over teens’ speakers, serving as a jumping-off point for future bands.

Sum 41 – “Fat Lip”

Appropriately titled, “Fat Lip” was Sum 41’s jab to the scene’s jaw. The more devilish version of blink-182 mirrored many of their peers but with an added edge. While other bands banked on basic melodies and high-pitched male singers, Sum 41 excelled because of Deryck Whibley’s harsh vocals and the more advanced guitar work of Dave Baksh. Both are present on “Fat Lip.” The song erupted up the 2001 summer charts, likely attracting the mohawked punk purists who may have been turned off by the blinks and Good Charlottes of the genre. 

The Starting Line – “Best Of Me”

While “emo”-leaning bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional and Saves The Day rode the fast track to stardom, the Starting Line hugged their pop-punk roots. “Best Of Me” features an ungodly catchy hook, and you probably know the chorus by heart. But it’s the song’s, and for that matter the band’s, accessibility that makes it so influential. “Best Of Me” is very coverable, and young bands could envision themselves in the Starting Line’s shoes—a bunch of rebellious suburban kids with some talent and loads of passion for music. Bands such as Green Day or Jimmy Eat World reached almost unattainable success. But the Starting Line were a star to shoot for. 

Good Charlotte – “Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous”

Unlike “Little Things” or “The Anthem,” “Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous” felt tailored to the normies. It was a simple, repetitive, overly polished track made for radio. And pop culture ate it up. It sprung up the Billboard Hot 100, found its way on popular TV shows and spent so much time on MTV, it should have paid rent. Good Charlotte’s hit is endeared by many, and it attracted a new crowd to pop punk. 

Fall Out Boy – “Sugar, We’re Goin Down”

It’s hard to make it in music. It’s even harder to be innovative and make it in music. “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” is a lyrically abstract masterpiece that gave subsequent bands an excuse to write creatively. Fall Out Boy’s 2003 album, Take This To Your Grave, expanded on the great work of their predecessors. But it did little to move the needle outside of simply being great pop-punk record. “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” was a game-changer. 

Motion City Soundtrack – “Everything Is Alright”

The Minneapolis natives put their own spin on pop punk with the popular “Everything Is Alright.” Justin Pierre sounded unlike his peers in the best way possible. And it was rare for a pop-punk song to get real on issues such as social anxiety or depression. Contemporary bands never shy from the topic, but early 2000s groups seemed to concern themselves more with lost loves and escaping hometowns. Motion City Soundtrack are often covered by younger, scene favorites. Cleary their legacy lives on. 

Paramore – “Crushcrushcrush”

Paramore’s third single “Crushcrushcrush” proved the band weren’t a one-or-two-hit wonder. The tune earned shiny medals at the major award shows, topping most of the charts. Lyrically, it’s the catchiest song on their breakthrough album, with the memorable chorus “Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone/Just the one, two of us/Who’s counting on/That never happens, I guess I’m dreaming again/Let’s be more than this.” The barrier for entry is steep for women in rock. “Crushcrushcrush” shot Paramore over the top. 

Mayday Parade – “Jersey”

It wasn’t Mayday Parade’s most popular work. But “Jersey” served as an anthem to New Jersey’s massive pop-punk/emo scene in the late 2000s. It was a direct nod the kids in the suburban capital of America who had little to do but jam out in their Middlesex County basements. 

All Time Low – “Dear Maria, Count Me In”

While Fall Out Boy starred in music videos with Kim Kardashian and synth-pop bands such as Metro Station were blowing up, All Time Low found success with good old-fashioned pop punk. “Dear Maria, Count Me In” kicks like a kangaroo on Red Bull, featuring the perfectly pitched vocals of Alex Gaskarth. They always seemed just a touch more polished than his predecessors’. All Time Low joined bands such as Mayday Parade, We The Kings and the Maine to form a new era of pop punk that still lives today.

Hey Monday – “Homecoming”

The moment Cassadee Pope belted the first verse in “Torn” on The Voice, we knew she had the competition in the bag. And it’s not just because her blind audition was perfection. Hey Monday’s first album, Hold On Tight, owned the scene in 2008. Their signature song, “Homecoming,” was one of the few pop-punk/emo songs to excel in alternative music after a decade of genre dominance. The track also launched one of the more successful solo careers we’ve seen from a scene band. 

The Wonder Years – “Came Out Swinging”

While pop punk rode backseat to easycore and indie rock in the early 2010s, the Wonder Years pressed the scene forward. Their 2011 breakthrough album, Suburbia I’ve Given You All And Now I’m Nothing, turned heads with its manic opening track, “Came Out Swinging.” Marked by driving guitars and those token pop-punk gang vocals, TWY gave a voice to a new generation of fans who were searching for a place to call home.

The Story So Far – “Clairvoyant”

The Story So Far helped birth “sad boi punk” with their heartfelt work in the early 2010s. “Clairvoyant” set the standard for bands such as Real Friends and Trophy Eyes, who would soon follow suit. Parker Cannon’s throwback vocals often mimic the glorious gravelliness of early punks. Their sound never seems too clean. The Story So Far are more Jawbreaker than they are Good Charlotte. It’s almost as if pop punk has come full circle. 

Knuckle Puck – “Untitled”

Pop punk hit a climax in 2015. Nestled in the middle was Knuckle Puck, who released their popular debut album, Copacetic. There isn’t a skippable track on the record, with “Untitled” being the most popular. And now a handful of young pop-punk bands are trying to copy the Chicago native’s successful formula. When asking up-and-coming scene bands about “influential pop-punk songs,” “Untitled” is often namechecked, and for good reason. 

Neck Deep – “In Bloom”

Before Machine Gun Kelly found pop-punk Jesus, Neck Deep’s “In Bloom” felt like it would go down as the genre’s last big hit. It’s somber yet bouncy, bleak yet hopeful. Fans latched on quickly, helping it become Neck Deep’s most-streamed track. But it’s the flowery music video that’s most memorable and often imitated. Notably, Real Friends and WSTR tried to duplicate the colorful look in their own productions.