AJR | Portland, OR
AJR, on their first arena tour, The Maybe Man Tour, made a stop at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The brothers, Adam, Jack and Ryan, were promoting the album with the same name, which felt like a dedication to their late father, Gary, who passed away in July 2023. Along for the ride was Dean Lewis an Australian singer, songwriter, and storyteller.
Dean Lewis took the stage with his band, where his guitarist yelled out a battle cry before jumping into the first song “Waves.” He began interacting with the crowd at the end of “7 Minutes,” making eye contact, waving, and conversing the rest of the set. In the middle of the set, he shared how much fun he was having in Portland and hated to bring down the mood by playing “How Do I Say Goodbye,” a song he had written when his father, now in remission, was diagnosed with cancer. The mood was immediately lifted by a cover of “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift. If you aren't a Swiftie, you may enjoy this version of the song which was recognizable, but Dean made it his own. Before ending his set, he played another cover of “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls where his guitarist Alex Bennison shredded at the end. Closing it out, Dean sang his hit “Be Alright” with fans joining along. It was the perfect compliment and warm-up for what was to come.
AJR's set began with visuals on a giant LED screen and suddenly a spotlight on the lead singer, Jack, or what appeared to be Jack. The spotlight continued to follow body doubles across the stage and even one hanging from above the stage. The brothers then jumped from below and pandemonium ensued. The energy from the three brothers and their band would stay elevated the entire night. They poked fun at each other, their playfulness and positive messages brought in fans of all ages. The rest of the evening included many special moments, including shadow puppets, and play to “Bang!” Jack then floated above the stage during “Karma” while the LEDs made it seem like he went from free-falling, then flying, and then floating. Ryan had a piano solo that seemed to be a distraction while the rest of the band snuck to the 300 level and played “World's Smallest Violin” on the balcony. Fans were blown away as the group explained how “Way Less Sad” was made, the notable melody from snippets of childhood videos clipped together. The night concluded with a dedication to their father. Fans were sure to take home the thrill and uplifting messages received that night.
