Words by Lillian May Rothman, Photos by Cary Evan
As an avid concertgoer, I make a point to approach all shows I attend with a Boy Scout-level of preparation. My strategy for AJR’s Somewhere in the Sky Tour at Marriweather Post Pavilionwas no different. With their discography streamed and a notebook in hand, I felt adequately equipped to cover the musical performances of the night. What I was not prepared for, however, was the innovative, energetic, and highly interactive concert that the AJR brothers presented.
I arrived at the arena at 5:30 sharp, approximately one hour before the music would begin—just enough time to grab an overpriced soft pretzel and interact with a few AJR enthusiasts. My efforts to arrive early were matched by thousands of eager fans, who, instead of standing in line for nachos and soft drinks, were queuing in a much longer line at the AJR merchandise table. I spoke with several fans as they enthusiastically waited to purchase their limited-run AJR t-shirts.
One millennial-aged fan told me that AJR was her favorite band for “happy” and “upbeat” music. “These are my go-to songs for whenever I need to get something done,” she remarked pointedly. Another, younger fan told me that she appreciated AJR’s willingness to engage with difficult and meaningful topics, like mental health, without compromising on musical quality and craftsmanship. Several concertgoers were even celebrating their birthday at the arena.
Before AJR began, those in the crowd were welcomed by several opening acts, including Ben Steer, Valley, Cavetown, and Chelsea Cutler, all of whom expressed immense gratitude andexcitement to be touring with the AJR brothers. By the time the lights dimmed in preparation for our headliners, the 19,000-seater pavilion was at full capacity.
The show commenced with an ominous backlit stage and cinematic instrumentals. Dark and foreboding storm clouds gave way to a gorgeous peach colored sky. Then, suddenly, a typewriter-style message appeared, alerting the audience that the brothers had used all their budget on the show’s monumental introduction and that the rest of the show would be operating on a very low budget, a joke that primed the audience for the type of lighthearted sarcasm and jovial energy the brothers brought to the entire performance.
AJR began their set with an energetic, uplifting performance of “Way Less Sad,” the penultimate track on their 2021 record “OK Orchestra. The crowd immediately joined in singing along to the catchy and heartfelt lyrics “No, I ain’t happy yet / But I’m way less sad”. Thankfully, everyone in the audience looked quite happy.
“Way Less Sad” was followed by an equally enthralling performance of “Karma” and “I’m a Mess.” I was so captivated by the performance and consumed by the energy of the audience that it took me nearly three songs to notice that one of the AJR brothers was missing! Jack, the lead singer, was wearing his signature white t-shirt and trapper hat. Ryan was wearing a floral short-sleeve button-down and his square-framed glasses, but Adam was nowhere to be found. Instead, Adam was off advocating for climate justice, developing his non-profit Planet Reimagined, and publicizing his book, Amplify. It certainly makes me way less sad to know that Adam is using his platform to inspire meaningful and lasting change.
The fourth song of the night was “The Good Part,” which begins pensively with chorus-inspired vocals accompanied by orchestral violin and thought-provoking lyrics, “Have I done my best here, or / Will I be here next year, or / Are these my best years yet?”. Illustrated trees with twinkling lights and piano-key decorated branches gave the stage a magical and fairy-tale-like aura as the beat dropped and the brothers belted out their world-famous verse, “Can we skip to the good part?”. If you ask me, the entire concert was “the good part.”
Check out the official video for “Betty” by AJR:
Jack and Ryan played many of their most popular songs, including their new song “Betty,” released on July 9th of this year. Despite its very recent release date, members of the audience seemed to know all the words. It’s certainly on track to be a staple of the band’s concert repertoire.
The concert also included an exclusive look at how Ryan and Jack composed their hit song “100 Bad Days”, audience cameos, and an arm-wrestling contest… yes, you heard that right, an arm-wrestling contest!
At the end of the night, I left the concert feeling inspired, energized, and notably optimistic. If there’s anything that can bring us together and pull our attention from our all-encompassing smartphones, it’s music. AJR’s upbeat tunes, captivating stage presence, and heartfelt lyrics encourage young and old fans alike to be present and live in the moment. Next time I see the AJR brothers in concert I know I’ll be prepared. In the meantime, I’ll be anxiously awaiting the drop of their new EP “What No One’s Thinking” due out on August 29th.
The setlist included:
Way Less Sad
Karma
Yes I’m a Mess
The Good Part
Betty
100 Bad Days
Burn the House Down
Bang!
Inertia
World’s Smallest Violin
Wow, I’m Not Crazy
Come Hang Out / I’m Not Famous / I’m Ready / Break My Face / Finale (Can’t Wait to See What You Do Next)
Steve’s Going to London
Sober Up
Encore:
Weak
Here are more photos of AJR performing at Merriweather Post Pavilion. All photos copyright Cary Evan
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”892″ display=”pro_mosaic”]And here are photos of Chelsea Cutler opening at Merriweather Post Pavilion
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”894″ display=”pro_mosaic”]And here are photos of Cavetown opening at Merriweather Post Pavilion
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”895″ display=”pro_mosaic”]And here are photos of Valley performing at Merriweather Post Pavilion
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”896″ display=”pro_mosaic”]And kicking things off at Merriweather Post Pavilion here are photos of Ben Steer
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”893″ display=”pro_mosaic”]
Nice work. Stage lighting is difficult to deal with and these are really nice and sharp.