Transcend to Somewhere In The Sky with AJR

From Somewhere In The Sky to a venue near you, AJR, the trio of brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan, is best known for their upbeat and catchy pop hits. This summer, they are on a mission to bring their fans on a musical escape into another world. The Somewhere In The Sky Tour is meant to be an otherworldly celebration of music. A world devoid of the badness of reality, and instead filled with joy and love for music. This unique experience includes a list of rotating opening acts. The show in Charlotte, NC, at PNC Music Pavilion, included four opening bands. Starting with 18-year-old singer-songwriter and previous finalist on NBC’s The Voice, Ryley Tate Wilson. Leading up to Valley, a Canadian indie pop band, and then into Cavetown, known for their bedroom pop and indie rock music. And finally ending with Goth Babe, the American indie rock solo project of singer-songwriter Griff Washburn. This wide range of acts created an electric lineup of artists that brought their style and flair to the stage.

Thanks to Goth Babe and their lively performance, the crowd was jumping and dancing before AJR even set foot on stage. The energy was buzzing from the barricade to the lawn as The Pavillon was filled with echoing chants of “AJR!” Then, the lights dimmed and the opening tones of “Way Less Sad” filled the air, and the crowd ruptured into a flood of screams. This show was more than just live music; it was a visual and interactive experience, going along with the celestial themes of The Somewhere In The Sky Tour. Soon, the main stage was full of psychedelic optics of mind-bending video effects, retro TV static, and smoke machines.

From the beginning, the band sets the fun and whimsical tone of the show by having the words “Sorry, we just got some bad news” appear on the screen. Only for the bad news to be that they blew their production budget on smoke machines. At an AJR show, laughter and cheers are one in the same. The band makes it clear that the fans are not just watching the show, they’re a part of it. At one point in the show, vocalist and guitarist Jack reveals that he has hidden an embarrassing photo of the pianist Ryan under a random fan’s seat. My favorite part of the show was when the band performed “World’s Smallest Violin” while physically sitting in the audience.

Additionally, the band is not afraid to be vulnerable with their audience. They openly discussed the ups and downs of their songwriting process and mentioned that their song “Inertia” almost didn’t make the final cut for their record. But as they performed that song tonight with the crowd singing along, it was clear that they made the right choice to fit it in.

Having been a band since 2005, AJR has accumulated two decades’ worth of fans. Just by scanning the crowd of homemade signs and custom t-shirts, the fans’ dedication and love for the band was soul-stirring. Celebrating 20 years as a band, AJR’s The Somewhere In The Sky Tour is a night full of whimsical moments and eccentric performances such as recognizable hits like “The Good Part” and “I’m Ready.” This mixture of ballads, light-hearted chart-topping songs, and playful bits is what fans expect from an AJR show. With only a handful of dates left on this U.S.-based tour, it is worth a stop on your summer concert itinerary.