Long before Jimmy Eat World crafted one of the definitive pop-rock hits of the 2000s, they were just four kids growing up in Mesa, Arizona. Now, their hometown has elected to honor this history by partnering with the band on a limited-edition library card available to anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Maricopa County. Meet those criteria but already have a library card? Don’t fret—you can swap yours in for a Jimmy Eat World version.
The Mesa Public Library’s new card follows in the footsteps of similar partnerships between Jay-Z and the Brooklyn Public Library and Laufey and the Reykjavik City Library, among others. The collaboration also involved tapping Jimmy Eat World for some book recommendations. Although their selections weren’t sorted by member, the collection includes For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway; Skink by Carl Hiaasen; The Vintage Book of Contemporary Short Stories by Tobias Wolff; and, like the true Gen X guys they are, The Wager by David Grann. You can check out their full list here.
In June, Jimmy Eat World embarked on a tour of North America in honor of the 25th anniversary of their album Bleed American. The run—which featured support from Sunny Day Real Estate, Illuminati Hotties, Mom Jeans, Jay Som, Pup, and more—marked the band’s first time back at Warped Tour since 2001. They’ll conclude the tour in November with a show at the Orlando edition of the famous punk festival.
Revisit Ivy Nelson’s 2021 Sunday Review of Jimmy Eat World’s third album, Clarity.
