{"id":129679,"date":"2024-04-15T10:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T14:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcmusicreview.com\/staging\/?p=129679"},"modified":"2024-04-14T08:42:10","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T12:42:10","slug":"ajr-electrifies-cfg-bank-arena-in-baltimore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dcmusicreview.com\/staging\/ajr-electrifies-cfg-bank-arena-in-baltimore\/","title":{"rendered":"AJR Electrifies CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have seen AJR<\/strong> in concert three times, and I don\u2019t know how they do it, but they just keep getting better. <\/p>\n

AJR, the indie pop trio of brothers Adam<\/strong>, Jack<\/strong>, and Ryan Metzger<\/strong> (shortened to Met), performed at CFG Bank Arena<\/strong> in Baltimore on April 7, 2024<\/strong>. This was their fourth stop on their four month long tour for their newest album, The Maybe Man<\/em>. Dean Lewis<\/strong>, Australian singer-songwriter, opened for them.<\/p>\n

The first show I saw was their drive-in concert in Philadelphia during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a brilliant idea. They performed in a parking lot while fans enjoyed the show from their spaced out cars. The second show was in Pittsburgh during their OK Orchestra<\/em> tour in 2022, and it was the most theatrical concert I had ever seen.<\/p>\n

\"Jack<\/p>\n

Jack Met<\/p>\n

Until they upped their game. Sunday\u2019s show was like watching a movie rolled into a Broadway stage production with a lot of audience interaction. It was an experience like no other.<\/p>\n

This tour is known as their \u201carena tour;\u201d they are only performing at large arenas and venues that can accommodate their set. They had large screens on either side of the stage along with a large screen in the back. They also had a cage-looking contraption that occasionally closed to become another screen.<\/p>\n

\"AJR<\/p>\n

The visuals at AJR\u2019s show were incredibly detailed and mind-bending. The show began with their title track, \u201cThe Maybe Man.\u201d As they sang about all of the types of people they could be, spotlights hit different spots on the stage to reveal \u201cJack\u201d facing away from the audience, as if he was teleporting to different spots. The real Jack appeared, suspended many feet above the ground, and the crowd cheered.<\/p>\n

Jack used the suspensions as well as the cage setup again for their song \u201cKarma\u201d to make it look like he was falling through the sky for the duration of the song. <\/p>\n

Many of the songs had their own settings projected on the screens, as if they were part of a musical\u2019s stage scenery. \u201cTouchy Feely Fool\u201d was set in a spaceship, \u201cYes I\u2019m A Mess\u201d began in a suburban neighborhood, and \u201cDon\u2019t Throw Out My Legos\u201d showed an apartment building with dancing lights.<\/p>\n

\"AJR<\/p>\n

One of the many truly unforgetable moments (although there were too many to really count) was when the band joined the audience to sing two songs from the crowd.  Jack sang two songs, \u201cWorld\u2019s Smallest Violin\u201d and \u201cSteve\u2019s Going to London,\u201d while sitting high up in the stands. Ryan came up to join him, along with trumpeter Arnetta Johnson.<\/p>\n

\"Jack<\/p>\n

During \u201c100 Bad Days,\u201d an overhead stage light started flickering and fell down. Ryan stopped the show, saying that this was not part of the show. They called for the safety crew to come check it out, and I believed it until the white-haired safety crew member ripped off his wig and mask to reveal Jack in disguise. They picked up where they left off in the song as fans laughed and cheered while a message flashed across the screen saying \u201cIt was part of the show!\u201d<\/p>\n

The boys love to banter onstage, as any brothers would. At each show, the boys pick out an audience member\u2019s hat that catches their eye to have Ryan try on. They picked a fan\u2019s fuzzy green frog hat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look like a flower that has yet to bloom,\u201d Ryan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was your nickname in kindergarten, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d Jack responded.<\/p>\n

\"Ryan<\/p>\n

Ryan Met – a flower yet to bloom<\/p>\n

Interactions between band members is always a comforting thing to see at concerts, and it comes so naturally for the brothers. It makes it feel like the audience members are their close family friends. <\/p>\n

At every show the brothers describe how they created one of their songs before they play it. This show, the song was \u201cWay Less Sad,\u201d a single released in 2021 off of their album OK Orchestra. They described how they found inspiration for instrument parts such as drum beats: by hearing plates clank together at a diner. Sometimes the inspiration strikes them out of nowhere, and other times it has been sitting under their noses for 20 years.<\/p>\n

Ryan said that \u201cWay Less Sad\u201d was 20 years in the making because the inspiration they found for the melody was from a collection of home videos of the brothers as kids. It just goes to show how much heart, soul, and brilliance goes into every song they make.<\/p>\n

Adam introduced \u201cBang!,\u201d which is one of the songs they used in previous shows to explain how they write their music. He said the song, which the band has described as a metaphor<\/a> for growing up and navigating adulthood, became somewhat of their darkest song \u2013 despite its catchy chords. <\/p>\n

\"Adam<\/p>\n

Adam Met<\/p>\n

To play into this darkness, Jack and Adam\u2019s silhouettes were cast very large on the big screen behind them against a dark red background. The silhouettes then took on a mind of their own<\/a> during Jack\u2019s drum solo. It was one of the most entertaining tricks in the show.<\/p>\n

I think one of the best things about AJR\u2019s brand is their fans. They have the nicest fans in the world, and they appeal to a vast range of ages. Everyone I encountered was kind to each other, complimenting peoples\u2019 outfits and just being polite. Their fans are just like band members: unapologetically themselves.<\/p>\n

\"AJR<\/p>\n

AJR – larger than life, and unapologetically themselves!<\/p>\n

Jack explained that there was an AJR hate club at their high school, but they never let the haters bring them down. In fact, that was one of their biggest motivators when forming their style, starting 18 years ago.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to tell that AJR is really special to their fans. The crowd was engaged the entire time. Many people had homemade signs, shirts from past tours, and fun costumes. And their lyrics really resonate with people.<\/p>\n

The arena filled with twinkling lights from people\u2019s phones as Ryan sang his trilogy of songs, \u201cTurning Out\u201d parts I through III, which are featured on The Click<\/strong>, Neotheater<\/strong>, and The Maybe Man<\/strong> respectively<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also easy to tell that the fans are special to AJR. They\u2019re very grateful for the people who engage with them and embrace their weirdness. The boys always like to point out people in the crowd that catch their eye. One such person was a young dancing boy dressed in a taco costume, along with his dad who was dancing like no one was watching for the entire set yet never actually looked at the stage.<\/p>\n

\"AJR<\/p>\n

To tie in the overall cinematic feel, after the encore, the cage screen went dark to reveal the words \u201cDirected by Ryan, Jack, and Adam Met,\u201d followed by rolling credits listing every person who was involved in this theatrical production. So many people were involved in this production, and their hard work truly paid off<\/p>\n

While still incredibly theatrical and energetic, this show was a bit sadder than the previous shows I\u2019ve seen. And I can understand why; the boys lost their dad, Gary, in July of 2023. Their album was released in November, and quite a few songs make reference to their dad\u2019s passing \u2013 \u201cGod is Really Real\u201d being the most explicit reference. <\/p>\n

Towards the end of the show, Jack choked up as he explained to the audience that there were two constants in this world. The first was that they would always have haters. The second was their dad, who told them never to listen to those haters and nonbelievers. Even though one of those constants is gone, Jack said that the band would never stop making music that expresses their true selves.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven up until last year, it was our dad that told us to keep going. Keep going, and eventually, you\u2019ll find some people who see the world the same way you do,\u201d Jack said as the chords for \u201cThe Maybe Man\u201d finale came in.<\/p>\n

\"Fans<\/p>\n

In his final monologue, Jack said that their dad told them that they should always be themselves no matter what.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the rest of our lives, we\u2019re gonna stand on this stage, walking on treadmills, bringing shadows to life, singing our weird songs. Because finally, after 18 years, we found a room full of people that see the world the same way we do!\u201d Jack shouted before singing the last song. \u201cBecause life is really, really short, guys. It\u2019s way too short to not be the biggest version of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

AJR are masters of illusions, yet they are also grounded by the human experience \u2013 something with which everyone can relate. Their Baltimore performance showed their true colors (and they showed so many colors) and showed the audience what kind of brilliant entertainers they are.<\/p>\n

\"AJR<\/p>\n

Setlist<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Setlist<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Setlist<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Click here to see the setlist for AJR’s <\/strong>performance<\/h4>\n
    \n
  1.  Maybe Man<\/li>\n
  2. Sober Up<\/li>\n
  3. Yes I’m a Mess<\/li>\n
  4. I Won’t \/ Birthday Party<\/li>\n
  5. The DJ Is Crying for Help<\/li>\n
  6. God Is Really Real<\/li>\n
  7. The Good Part<\/li>\n
  8. Bang!<\/li>\n
  9. Inertia<\/li>\n
  10. Touchy Feely Fool<\/li>\n
  11. Karma<\/li>\n
  12. Turning Out \/ Turning Out Pt. ii \/ Turning Out Pt. iii<\/li>\n
  13. World’s Smallest Violin (1)<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
  14. Steve’s Going to London (1)<\/strong> <\/li>\n
  15. Burn the House Down<\/li>\n
  16. How We Made: Way Less Sad (2)<\/strong><\/li>\n
  17. Way Less Sad<\/li>\n
  18. Don’t Throw Out My Legos<\/li>\n
  19. 100 Bad Days<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Encore<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1.  Weak<\/li>\n
    2. 2085<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      1) Band played from the crowd<\/p>\n

      2) Song played from tape<\/p>\n

      Photo Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Photo Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Photo Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Enjoy photos by our photographer Jess Daninhirsch<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Listen<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Listen<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Listen<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Have you tried TIDAL<\/a> yet?  They have some of the best streaming sound out there with multiple subscription plans including a free version<\/span><\/strong> in addition to HiDef, Family, and Student packages.  Click here for more Information<\/a> about available packages.<\/p>\n

      Headlining Act Name<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Additional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      To learn more about AJR Brothers<\/strong>, please see the following web resources:<\/p>\n