Bradenton's We the Kings on packed Manatee concert: 'Hometown show was so fun'

Jerry Abbey, 52, has been to 16 We the Kings concerts. Attending them with his daughter, Sarah, 20, left, has become a family hobby. The Abbeys, who are from Ohio, posed while waiting in line before Thursday's free show at The Hall in Palmetto. RICHARD DYMOND/Bradenton Herald

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/12/28/4331145/we-the-kings-pack-the-hall-in.html#storylink=cpy

 
Fans of We the Kings arrived four hours early for the platinum-selling pop-punk band's Hometown Holiday Show Thursday at The Hall in Palmetto.

While the band from Bradenton sold out previous pay shows at the 950-capacity Manatee County venue, this year's local concert was gratis.

Free tickets were given out on a first-come, first-serve basis at the door.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/12/27/4329913/famed-bradenton-rock-band-we-the.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/12/27/4329913/famed-bradenton-rock-band-we-the.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/12/27/4329913/famed-bradenton-rock-band-we-the.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/12/11/4312100/we-the-kings-travis-clark-on-free.html#storylink=cpy

"We want front-of-stage presence," said Maria Reynolds, 21, of Jacksonville, when asked why she and her four friends arrived at 3 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show.

Read more. 

"Hometown show was so fun," Tweeted Charles Trippy, the bassist for We the Kings, at 1:40 a.m. on Friday.

"We wanted to do something where we could give back," We the Kings singer/guitarist Travis Clark told me shortly after announcing the show. "Christmas time is really damaging on peoples' wallets and we didn't want anyone worrying about buying a ticket. It's our friends and family and only seems right to give back to the community."

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/12/27/4329913/famed-bradenton-rock-band-we-the.html#storylink=cpy