Major League Hits the Lights at Motorco in Durham, NC

Photos and writing by Shanna Rogers

It was truly an evening to remember on the final night of April 2026. Kicking off their first tour in over a decade, Major League stopped into Motorco Music Hall in Durham, North Carolina, with co-headliners and pop-punk legends Hit The Lights, supported by Public Works and Rematch. From the moment the fans entered the venue, it was obvious that this show was going to be a power-packed evening.

Rematch took the stage first, delighting the crowd from the very first note. A band claiming “no coast”, Rematch is a pop-punk powerhouse unlike any other. With a recent release of their first full-length album under their belt, they’re tearing up stages all across the country with nostalgic pop-punk riffs blended with new-age sounds.

Public Works electrified the stage second and left no eye dry by their final song. With strong roots in recovery, the New Jersey-based band flowed seamlessly from pop-punk energy to emotional ballads. Their lyrics are heartfelt, emotional, and touch on a place with which this child of recovery truly resonates.

Co-headliner and early 2000s pop-punk legends Hit the Lights took the stage third. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of their hit album, This is a Stick Up, Don’t Make it a Murder, the band played through every song, making the crowd wait for fan-favorite “Bodybag” until the last song. Every person in the room knew every word, including this photographer who finally got to see one of her all-time favorites. The energy in the room was palpable, and the crowd easily shouted back to lead singer Nick Thompson when he held out the mic.

Rounding out the evening with a ripping set was New Jersey-based legends Major League. After more than a decade off the stage touring, every member of Major League was ready to hit the road running again without stopping. Celebrating fifteen years of their debut album The Truth Is…, the band played the album in its entirety, sprinkling in well-loved songs from their wide breadth of musical backlog. From the smiles on their faces, to the skill in every stroke of every instrument, to the crowd singing every lyric back to them, I have no doubt that the tour kickoff at Motorco Music Hall will be an evening to remember. Not only for the fans who crowded the stage, but for Major League and every band that supported them.

The tour continues throughout mid-May, with stops all along the east coast.