Say Anything, AJJ, Greet Death

Prepare to sing your lungs out, you aging emo kids: Say Anything is a real band again. Max Bemis packed away his sardonic-romantic, Queen-loving, indie-pop-punk experimenters in 2018 after Oliver Appropriate, a quasi-sequel to 2004’s breakout …Is a Real Boy. Out of nowhere, Bemis has got back together with founding drummer Coby Linder, filled out the roster with a lineup that includes ex-Taking Back Sunday guitarist Fred Mascherino, unleashed a whole new album (the wittily aggressive …Is Committed) and is bringing the gang to town to wrap up a tour that celebrates 20 years of …Is a Real Boy. – Richard Whittaker