By Erin Lee
Photo by Erin Lee
AJR absolutely floored me at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL last night.
The Met brothers are known for elaborate stage productions. In the weeks leading up to our tour stop, I tried my best to avoid any spoilers. It was no easy task, especially following the fandom on social media platforms.
Standing in the pit as the screen illuminated and the infamous narrator's voice began to set the tone for the evening, I allowed myself to become fully immersed in The Maybe Man Tour.
Over the course of the next 90 minutes, the band took the audience on a journey that was equal parts theatrical performance and concert.
Opening with the title track from their newest album, the spotlight shifted from one body double of lead singer Jack Met to the next as he sang in contemplation about all of the versions of himself he wishes he could be.
The band continued to play through several well-known songs both old and new; incorporating stage lifts, video screens, and suspension to tell their story of each track.
The intensity of the performance never wavered: each band member was giving it their all every step of the way.
Jack's signature frantic racing across the stage, spinning and singing in a blur of excited motion, kept the crowd on the edge of their seat as they took in every move.
In the first half of the show, the 3 brothers played a beautiful acoustic version of "God is Really Real," a song written about the recent passing of their beloved father.
Gary is referenced again and again throughout the performance. As AJR fans know, he played a pivotal role encouraging them to pursue their dreams, unapologetically cheering on their every milestone.
After a high-energy rendition of 2021's smash hit "Bang!" including shadow puppets and percussion solos, the group stopped down to joke around with the crowd. A staple of every AJR show, Jack and Ryan took to the mic to discuss people they'd noticed in the audience.
A fan had brought a banner with Miami's own Pitbull, and the boys cracked jokes about confusing their show for "Mr. 305."
Next, Ryan sat down at the piano to play the "Turning Out" trilogy. Unsuspecting audience members were in for a huge surprise when Jack, Adam, and trumpet player Arnetta Johnson showed up in an upper-level section of the venue to conduct a singalong of fan favorite "The World's Smallest Violin," from their OK Orchestra album.
Another staple of the AJR live experience is the band breaking down one of their songs and explaining how it was made.
Their DIY approach to creating music is truly inspiring. Utilizing stage props and childhood home movies to highlight the story. It made you feel as though you were building a track with the band.
Rounding out the encore was "Weak" from 2017's The Click, and a stunning finale of 2085 that closes out The Maybe Man.
The entire band took to the front of the stage, including percussion, horns, and violin.
Jack spoke about getting bullied in school, and how no matter who doubted them, they kept going with their passion until it led them to their first headlining arena tour.
As a fan of the band's since 2017, it has been an absolute pleasure to watch them grow as artists and performers.
I can't wait to see how they will continue to outdo themselves. This show was truly one of a kind.
Images by Erin Lee:
Comments