Yellowcard

Yellowcard formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, with Ryan Key on vocals, Ben Harper on guitar, Sean Mackin playing violin, and Longineu Parsons III on drums. Their early material pulled from emo and pop-punk, but the violin gave them a different texture from most bands in that space. In 2003 they released 'Ocean Avenue,' which became a radio staple and pushed them into much wider recognition. Songs like 'Empty Street' and 'Rough Landing, Holly' from that period showed how they could wrap big, anthemic choruses around Mackin's string arrangements.

After Harper left in 2006, Ryan Mendez joined on guitar. The band kept putting out albums through the 2000s and into the 2010s, 'Lights and Sounds,' 'Paper Walls,' 'When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes', and the lineup shifted a few more times, though Key and Mackin stayed at the center. They announced a hiatus in 2017, then returned to play shows in 2022.