Orlando, FL – Five Iron Frenzy teed up a joyful, raucous show on the first stop of their Florida tour, delivering better than par with a setlist that spanned the old and new.
“A Flowery Song” kicked things off, the opening bassline reeling in a big burst of brass and distorted guitar. Humor has always defined the eight-piece ska band, from on-stage banter to songs like their second track: “Phantom Mullet.”
This was my third Five Iron Frenzy show, and each time I’m reminded just how much energy and volume eight people can bring. At different points as many as four or five people were singing back up vocals, weaving in new harmonic depths to familiar songs like “You Can’t Handle This.”
Speaking of energy, the “frenzy” continues to prove true, even for a band that sports a little more gray in their hair each time they go on tour. (Consider Upbeats and Beatdowns debuted in 1997). Tongue-in-cheek tracks like “At Least I’m Not Like All Those Other Old Guys” fully acknowledge this reality. Age notwithstanding, high BPM tracks like “Milestone” with its relentless punk pace sent everyone whirling around the stage, while saxophonist Leonor Ortega Till took every opportunity to rally the crowd with energetic fist pumps.
In between crisp, dialed-in songs, the band’s signature humor kept the energy up for tuning and water breaks. Lead singer Reese Roper struggled with a wardrobe malfunction on his pants zipper, guitarist Micah Ortega showed off his wireless rig with a “20-second parade” across the stage and a wizard puppet introduced “Wizard Needs Food, Badly.”
For all the jokes (and everyone appreciated the ad hoc addition of “Canada” to the setlist), Five Iron Frenzy knows how to get serious. Songs like “In Through the out Door” tackle a Biblical view of immigration, while “A New Hope” speaks to the Columbine school shooting that directly impacted the Colorado-based band.
Of course, the set was capped with regular closer “Every New Day,” which soars as triumphant as the day it debuted.
Keeping Five Iron Frenzy company on the road were another mid-90s youth group favorite: Ghoti Hook. The power punk trio reunited last year for a handful of DIY shows after a 20+ year break, busting out all the favorites from “Shrinky Dinks” to “Seasons” to “My Bike.”
Like their compatriots, the boys were a little older and a little wiser, cracking jokes like “here’s another song we don’t remember.” Twice they teased the opening chords of songs (“Body Juggler” and “Samson”), prompting bassist Jamie Tolosa to jokingly tell the crowd “there, we played it.” While there were a lot of options for a set closer, the trio settled for a big, drawn out cover of “Where is My Mind.” A little surprising, but ultimately satisfying.
Combined the two bands created an unforgettable experience for a middle-aged crowd hungry for a hit of nostalgia.
Five Iron Frenzy
Ghoti Hook
Five Iron Frenzy Setlist
A Flowery Song
The Phantom Mullet
American Kryptonite
Milestone
At Least I’m Not Like All Those Other Old Guys
One Girl Army
When I Go Out
Receive Him (Vengeance Rising cover)
So We Sing
Blue Comb ’78
Handbook for the Sellout
My Evil Plan to Save the World
So Far
Battle Dancing Unicorns with Glitter
You Can’t Handle This
Wizard Needs Food, Badly
Cannonball
Oh, Canada (by request)
Into Your Veins
In Through the Out Door
A New Hope
Every New Day
Ghoti Hook Setlist
Shrinky Dinks
You Bring Me Down
Seasons
Chevy Nova
My Bike
South Capitol Street
Body Juggler (snippet)
Drop Dead
Two Years to Never
Samson (snippet)
Never
Where Is My Mind (Pixies cover)
Show Date: 08/14/2025
