Remember the time we realized Thriller was our favourite song?

Save for a few good friends, I've cut off communication with most of my high school classmates.

Every once in a while I'll see one on the street, stop, turn, and start walking in the opposite direction to avoid any sort of awkward encounter.

Which is why I wasn't sure how I'd enjoy last night's New Found Glory show at the Phoenix in Toronto. Sure, their music defined my youth, but dude -- I'm getting old! Perhaps I'd feel nothing but indifference for the band, as I try to bury memories of the gawkiest years of my life.

I saw the pop-punk five-piece for the first time back in summer 2001 and was immediately hooked by their infectious pop hooks and undeniable energy. Their songs of heartache and coming of age became my adolescent anthems, and I saw them at least three more times before graduating high school in 2003.

But time passed. I cut the black Nice 'N Easy-dyed hair off my head and traded my wide-legged jeans for pants wide enough for just one person. I grew up and realized that even at its toughest, I had very little in my life to be angst-ridden about.

As I waited for NFG to take the stage last night, I was still somehow shocked to realize I wasn't the only fan of theirs who had grown up. In fact, I was surrounded by mid-twenty-somethings!

By the band's second song I recognized that even if I'm no longer living vicariously through their lyrics, it's the heart and energy the put into their live show that keeps long-term fans like myself coming back.

"I'm sick of smiling and so is my jaw!" I sang along with vocalist Jordan Pundik, even though a goofy smirk wouldn't leave my face for the rest of their set. Today, as eight years ago, New Found Glory deliver a performance that’s meant to be sung along to. It’s encouraged, and the audience is happy to oblige, hands clapping, fists pumping, and feet jumping.

Catering to their loyal long-term fan base, the band mixed the best high energy tracks off earlier releases (Dressed to Kill, Hit or Miss, Better Off Dead) with the more introspective (The Story So Far, Forget My Name), a cover song (Don't You Forget About Me), and a few tracks from their newest releases (which I admittedly was hearing for the first time).

Technically, the sound was muffled, as was the case for the the night's opening acts. But performance-wise there was nothing stopping the energy of Pundik and guitarist Chad Gilbert in particular, who hopped around every inch of stage.

Between-song banter reminded me of the band's endearing goofiness, and included a pause for Gilbert to snap the above photo to post to his Twitter.

The band's three-song encore included 2's & 3's, by audience request, and perhaps their biggest commercial hit My Friends Over You.

Before the show even ended I realized I would totally jump on the chance to see New Found Glory next time they come to town. The show felt like going home to a place I didn't realize I was missing.

Still, don’t expect to see me at any high school reunions anytime soon.

[photo via Chad Gilbert's Twitter]