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With Confidence at Subterranean in Chicago on November 3rd. Photo by: Lars JuvelandOn November 4, 2022, With Confidence played their last U.S. show. The scene was emotional, bittersweet, and somehow just as energetic as one would expect. I was lucky enough to be on the ground at this show, when thousands of With Confidence fans across the world will never have the chance to see them live again. So, I will do my best to bring you into that night. On September 9th, 2022, With Confidence announced that their upcoming shows would be their last as a band. After ten years together, their time had come. Starting in Sydney, Australia in 2012, the band could've never imagined how successful they would be. They released three full length albums--Better Weather in 2016, Love and Loathing in 2018, and With Confidence in 2020--after getting their start with two EPs--Youth in 2013 and Distance in 2015. They toured the world as both headliners and support, and garnered over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Their most streamed song, Voldemort off of Better Weather, has over 36 million streams on Spotify as of November 2022. Whether you knew their music or not, nobody can deny the success that With Confidence had in their ten year career.I had several thoughts when With Confidence announced their breakup. First and foremost, I was beyond grateful that they were giving us the chance to say goodbye. So many bands fizzle out, sometimes without explanation, until they are forgotten. Other bands announce their breakups seemingly out of nowhere, and while I did not see this news coming, I had nearly two months to prepare before it was over. The band's last U.S. tour was their previously announced co-headliner with Real Friends, supported by The Home Team and Taylor Acorn. At the end of November, they will travel back to Australia for three final shows in their home country. On November 27th, 2022, With Confidence will play their last show ever in Brisbane, Australia. Rumors have been floating around about a potential Better Weather anniversary tour happening in a few years, with some members saying they want to see it happen, but for now...we have no idea when With Confidence will return, or if they will at all. My second thought was just how devastated I was by the news. With Confidence is my favorite band. I followed their summer tour with Stand Atlantic for four dates, got a tattoo to commemorate their song Pâquerette (Without Me), and I have no doubt that they will be my most-streamed artist in 2022. I still remember where I was when I saw their break-up post. But I could've never expected how painful saying goodbye would really be. The tour was originally supposed to end in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 1st. However, in late September, Real Friends and With Confidence announced that the tour would close with two shows in Chicago, Illinois on November 3rd and 4th. November 4th was announced first--a show at Bottom Lounge. After that sold out within 24 hours, they announced an additional show on November 3rd at Subterranean--less than three miles from Bottom Lounge. That show sold out in mere hours. The biggest difference between the two shows were the size and set up. Subterranean holds 247 people, while Bottom Lounge holds 700 people in its 18,000 square feet facility. The Subterranean show had no barricade, meaning fans got to get up close and personal with each of the performers. The venue was filled with crowdsurfers, circle pits, and high energy song after song on November 3rd. The morale was up, and everybody was clearly having a good time. November 4th was anything but happy, however. Sure, smiles were shared among fans throughout the show, but it was different. The air was thick with sadness. Even if you did not know that this show was With Confidence's end, you would've been able to tell from the energy that something was off. I have never been to a show that was so loud while being so incredibly depressing.Taylor AcornTaylor Acorn took the stage first. A former country singer, Acorn made the shift to pop-punk music in 2020. She has been featured on Arrows In Action's single Uncomfortably Numb and her own releases Psycho, Shapeshifting, and First Date have accumulated millions of streams. During her seven song set--which included a cover of Mayday Parade's Jamie All Over--Acorn got the crowd jumping, singing along, and even crowdsurfing, all before 8:00. She took the visibly upset With Confidence fans and gave them something to smile about. If only for a short time, she was able to take us out of our heads and show us a good time. Although, with her incredible stage presence, it is hard to not be captivated by her performance. For Acorn's first pop-punk tour, she was absolutely amazing. Her fans should be beyond proud of her. Taylor Acorn in Chicago. Photo by: Johnathan PhelpsThe Home TeamAfter Acorn, Seattle band The Home Team performed. Judging by how loud the room was, you could have never guessed that they were an opening band. The crowd was singing back every word as the band bounced around the stage. Their set included songs new and old. With a lineup as diverse as their music style, the band played both She's Quiet, their most streamed song with nearly 10 million, and fan favorite Scary Movies. Acorn got the room warmed up and smiling, and The Home Team only brought the energy up even more. The crowd was jumping with such force that the floor began to shake. During their thirty-minute set, The Home Team had every eye on them. Even the fans who had never heard of them were absolutely captivated by their catchy songs, smooth guitar rhythms, and stage presence reminiscent of My Chemical Romance. I was so invested that I almost forgot about With Confidence's impending set. Of course, as soon as The Home Team thanked their fellow tour partners before the end of the set, we were reminded of what was to come. But even after they stepped offstage, the buzz from the energy they brought could still be felt throughout the venue. It was almost as if the room was brought back to life. It felt completely different in Bottom Lounge than it did before Acorn and The Home Team took the stage. The Home Team in Chicago. Photo by: Niles Gregory GibbsWith ConfidenceAs crew began setting up for With Confidence's set, the high-energy that the two openers had instilled in the crowd was quickly diminishing. We all knew what this meant--it was really ending. We were about to watch With Confidence play a set with no idea what their future would look like, either as individuals or as a band. Around me, I heard people muttering about how they were already crying before the band even stepped onstage. During the show, With Confidence was so amazing that it was easy to forget what this show was--a farewell. But with band members tearing up onstage, it was clear that this was no normal set. Grateful fans threw daisies and roses onto the stage, causing a rain of flowers like it was a scene out of a movie. As if that wasn't movie-like enough, the videographer carrying around a early-2000s-esque camcorder was. Midway through the set, we learned that the footage would be turned into a With Confidence final show documentary which will be uploaded online at a later date.I spent most of the show with my arms around my friends and tears streaming down my face. Even while smiling at the jokes that vocalist Jayden Seeley would crack, or screaming lyrics at the top of my lungs, I do not think I stopped crying at all throughout their set. There were moments where I was having fun and enjoying myself, but in the back of my mind, I knew I would never see With Confidence live again. As far as a setlist goes, With Confidence could have not picked a better assortment of songs. They played at least one song from each of their full-length albums as well as songs from Distance and Better Weather B-Sides. Of their entire discography, With Confidence only left their first EP, Youth, unplayed, not including covers they have released. They truly made sure every fan attending could hear something they enjoyed, rather they were a fan of the classics or only came around during their lat

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