This Energy Is Not Material And It’s Never Gonna Let You Down

I was just telling a friend of mine how I felt so jaded and spoiled with all of the concerts I get to go to. It’s not that I don’t get excited anymore, but I feel like some of the magic of concert-going is gone for me. I no longer show up super early in lines outside of venues to get a perfect spot at a venue, and I feel like I can socialize a bit more than I actually pay attention to some shows. Maybe it’s burnout, maybe it’s just because I consume so much music on a daily basis. Whatever it is, I miss the magic of live shows that I used to get when I started this conquest. Although I didn’t get to Thursday night’s show super early to snag the perfect spot against the front railing, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a couple of years- sheer excitement and the anticipation of having a bit of a release for my current stress level.

The first time I saw Friday Pilots Club live, I wasn’t overly impressed. I felt that they were a super solid band, but their sound lacked a sense of depth for me, and, as much as I loved dancing around to their poppy beats, it just didn’t do it for me. Something changed when I saw them perform on Thursday night. Although they still came off as that fun-loving and boppy boy band, there was an extra edge that came with their performance that instantly had me sold. Maybe that edge was in vocalist Caleb Hiltunen’s voice. I feel like I definitely got that pop-based sound from him like I did last time, but there were moments where his vocals had just a touch more grit and just a bit more fire behind them, which had me hooked. Maybe it was the way everyone in the front row was screaming every single word like their life depended on it. Sure, the words of Friday Pilots Club weren’t my words, but the way the front row was hanging on every last one of them opened my eyes to the effect that this band clearly has on their fans. Friday Pilots Club isn’t my band. I honestly don’t know if they ever will be, but their performance on Thursday definitely made me see their light, and it’s a light I hope to get to experience again soon.

Following Friday, the Pilots Club was nightly. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Nightly is an alt-pop band that has an almost electronic influence behind their sound, which makes them dazzle under the bright lights of First Avenue. I loved the way that this band felt so fresh, but the almost electronic vibes gave them this slight 80’s kinda synth-pop inspiration. It was a cool blend, and what was cooler was the way they were received by the audience. I don’t know what it was, but vocalist Jonathan Capeci seemed oddly nervous during the first couple of songs. He just felt a bit timid and underwhelming, but as the set moved on and the audience got more amped up and more into the song, you saw Jonathan and the other two members of this trio let loose a little bit. By the end of the set, you could see that this band was riding high on the waves of admiration that were flowing from the audience, and it ended up being a perfect set. I just wish it had all happened earlier during Nightly’s time on stage because I feel like nailing the first couple of songs like they did the last few could have really turned more heads than they already did. This was my first time seeing Nightly live, and although it had a bit of a rocky start for me, I hope I get to see them again and see them live up to their full potential. This band is amazing and has a unique sound; they just need to get comfortable with it, and I think that comes with just a bit more time on bigger stages like First Avenue’s and in front of audiences that actually care about the music (like Minneapolis, but that’s a whole other story).

I felt an undeniable sense of excitement as the stage was turned over for Grayscale- the final supporting act of Thursday night’s show. They blew my mind when I saw them opening up for Mayday Parade last May, and I was just so excited to experience it all again. They did not disappoint. Like a fine wine, this band keeps on getting better with time. It’s not that their sound has gotten better– their pop-punk leaning jams have always been flawless, but it’s more in their stage presence. Have you ever seen a band and just felt this level of coolness that you know you will never reach? That’s Grayscale. They cared about what they were delivering to the packed audience on Thursday night, which was easy to see, but they made everything they did on that stage feel and seem so effortless. It was as if this band is just so good that they don’t even have to try anymore, but, at the same time, you knew they were trying with all of their hearts with the way their music hit not just your ears, but also your soul.

Closing out this Thursday night show was a personal favorite of mine- The Maine. Here’s where I should tell you that I’m going to leave my bias behind when it comes to covering this band, but, truthfully, I just can not. The Maine has been around for decades, and since their start in 2007, they have been creating music that truly speaks to my heart. There are very few bands that have stuck around in my life for as long as The Maine. They’ve lasted this long because their music has evolved in real time to match my life. Okay, it doesn’t just match my life, it matches a bunch of twenty and thirty-somethings’ lives where we are all just desperately trying to hang on in life and hang onto hope. The Maine gives me that life, they give me that hope, so, no, I will not take my bias out of this review but will say that, bias-aside, The Maine always gives a hell of a performance and Thursday night was no different.

The Maine absolutely nailed curating the perfect set. With ten albums out there (including their brand new ‘Joy Next Door’ which officially comes out today!), The Maine had far more songs than time when it came to their set, but they made sure to honor every era of the band. During their 21-song set, they managed to play at least one track from every album, and I seriously have to applaud them for that. “We All Roll Along” came out on The Maine’s debut 2008 album ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.’ It’s not hard to imagine them being sick of playing that song, but they performed on Thursday like it was one of their brand new bangers that they were excited to share with an audience. That’s the magic of The Maine. They know you want to hear it all and, although they can’t give it all to you, they do their best to give you a little bit of everything, including deep cuts from deep albums.

The sound of The Maine isn’t for everyone. I’ll be the first to admit that. Honestly, I don’t think my boyfriend enjoys their classic pop-punk tone or their love-song-centric style, but that’s okay. When you’re at a Maine show, the sound is not in the forefront; it’s the feeling. There are no words to accurately describe the feeling that washes over you when watching The Maine. Whether you’re right up front screaming to every word or lingering in the back of the venue just having a drink and trying to decompress from a trying day, week, month, year, life, whatever, The Maine’s positive energy will change you. From the moments when vocalist John O’Callaghan says, “Don’t be shy!” to the way he encourages everyone to dance along to their more infectious songs, even if you don’t know how to dance, there’s just something so positive about everything this band does. This world is constantly trying to change us all. We are told how to dress, how to act, what to feel, everything but something about seeing The Maine live erases all of that. They tell you to be who you are. They urge you to dance how you want. They allow you to feel what you need to feel. They are a safe space and, no matter how many times I see the live, that will never get old to me.