Like most teenagers in 2001, I, too, was obsessed with Jimmy Eat World’s breakout hit, "The Middle." The song is what initially drew me to the band, but over the years, I came to realize it was just as addictive and catchy as the rest of their music.

Ten years later, JEW is still going strong and currently on the road in support of their 2010 LP, Invented. The tour stopped at the Ritz Ybor this past Wednesday night, and proved that they still know how to rock it — and just as hard as the last time I saw them more than seven years ago.

The Ritz was packed tight, but with just enough breathing room to allow a little moving and dancing. The crowd's excitement was palpable and when Jimmy Eat World finally hit the stage and launched into "Bleed American,” the whole place went nuts.

The amazing thing about Jimmy Eat World is that their lyrics may seem simple and succinct, but can move emotional mountains when enjoyed in the right context. Although generically labeled as an "alt rock" band, their songwriting borders on emo and their sound draws on elements of power pop and punk rock as well. Jimmy Eat World also has the ability to paint a vivid picture with every song they play. You can literally see the story play out in your mind as they hit each note and sing each line.

This show was intensely hypnotic in all the right ways and when the fans weren't rocking out or singing along to most of the songs that made up the band's diverse set list, they were held rapt, frontman Jim Adkins commanding attention with his sweet and dynamic vocals, igniting the energy and revving up the place or bringing it down to a low mellow burn.

By the time they played "Futures" halfway through the set, they'd really hit their stride and continued to impress the fans, throwing in some tasty older material along with more recent fare. From louder, wilder numbers like "Pain," to slower, dulcet-toned odes like "23," the energy level never dipped on or offstage and when the band ended the set on a mighty roar with “Goodbye Sky Harbor,” the crowd cheered so loudly for an encore that JEW really had no choice but to oblige and return. After all, they hadn’t played “The Middle” yet and couldn’t leave their fans without that gem.

Still keeping the crowd on their toes, they played “Invented,” the title track off their new album, and followed it with the one we all fell in love with a decade ago, “The Middle.” The fans went ballistic. I think we all sang louder than the band for that one. Last but not least, the band closed with “Sweetness,” which made me feel like a teenager again and prompted me to bust out my old school Jimmy Eat World CDs as soon as I got home.

Whether or not you’re an avid fan or just picked up a few of their hits here and there, a Wednesday night with Jimmy Eat World is definitely the best hump day push to the weekend that I can recommend. It was an amazing show, an epic set, and a great exchance of energy between the fans and the band, making this a Groundhog Day to remember.

One, big rock-along.

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