Hello everyone! Happy Tuesday. So last week (exactly a week ago now) I had the opportunity to see one of my favourite bands, The Maine, in concert for the third time!

I also thought it would be appropriate to post this today because on this day 2 years ago I saw them live. I ❤️ The Maine.

The Maine
Lovely, Little, Lonely World Tour
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
The Phoenix Concert Centre

No matter how many times you see The Maine, I swear every time is something a little different and a lot of fun. This is my third time seeing The Maine and it was just as good as the first two, if not better.

Obviously before they crept on stage at 9:30, they had two opening acts.

The first being Beach Weather. Fronted by Nick Santino, who is, if you’re into the whole pop/punk/rock/alternative scene remember that band A Rocket to the Moon? The guys who released an amazing album back in 2013 then decided very shortly after to call it quits, Nick Santino fronted that band. I never had the opportunity to see ARTHM live, sadly, but seeing Beach Weather was pretty cool. (Yes I’m still a little bitter about that band’s ending.) They walked on stage and this kid behind me was so excited to see Nick he kept screaming his name and the band’s name; it was almost like he was drunk for the first time with glow stick in hand waving it around. He looked ready for a rave than a rock and roll show, but to each their own right?

So they opened with the only song I know (which is a complete coincidence because I’ve been listening to the song on Spotify without realizing who the artist was) Someone’s Disaster. It felt so good just sway and be one with the music. I also had a pretty good view (which I unfortunately lost). Their set was just super relaxing yet really got the crowd pumped up. Nick and his band put a lot of effort into being present onstage and they rocked pretty hard. Overall, they were enjoyable and I’d love to see them again, after I learned more of their songs because they all seemed fun and engaging.

Setlist:

1. Someone’s Disaster
2. Rebel Sun
3. Swoon
4. Tremors
5. Home Movies
6. Bad Seed
7. Goddess
8. Chit Chat
9. New Skin
10. Sex, Drugs, Etc.

The reason I lost my spot is because I decided I was going to buy merch. Now when you have a seat to go back to, buying merch during a set or right after works really well because you don’t lose your spot. My case, I lost my little standing room spot, but I’m very happy with my new sweater so I can’t complain.

I got back just in time for the second act to grace they stage. A band called the Mowgli’s, from L.A and you could just tell that’s where they’re from. They had this whole L.A vibe to them with the tambourine, their clothes, and their hippie attitude. I don’t mean this to come off as I didn’t like it and criticizing them, because I’m not I’m just stating what I saw. If you know L.A, then you know the vibe. (yes I realize I’m miles and miles away from L.A. but I feel like I consume enough media from there that I’m immersed in it enough to notice it.)

I’ve never listened or even heard of these guys, but their full of fun poppy songs that are to be uplifting. Something to listen to when you need a pick me up.

Setlist:

1. Bad Dream
2. Spacin Out
3. 4am
4. Whatever Forever
5. Say It, Just Say It
6. Freakin’ Me Out
7. Spiderweb
8. Bad Thing
9. Automatic
10. Alone Sometimes
11. I’m Good
12. San Francisco

After their set there was about 15 minutes of waiting time, which always feels like a lifetime when you’re waiting for something good.

During that time, and well even during the Mowgli’s set I found myself in a horrible spot where (it seems I’m always graced with finding the drunks or drugged in a crowd) this one girl was either really wasted or had taken something, but she couldn’t stand and she kept leaning on people, and I’m not here to be someone’s bed, so I had to push her off and she turns around looking like why did I touch her and she pushed me right back. As much as you try to get away from these people they just keep following, and I couldn’t shake her for a long time. I just thought I’d share my dislikes when it comes to a big mosh, crowds at concerts.

Finally, the longest 15 minutes of my life, the music stops and the lights go down and The Maine grace the stage.

They opened with their new song Black Butterflies & Déjà vu and they just blew up.

Two songs in John O’Callahan introduces the band and we lift off from there.

Any time I listen to (Un)Lost it just makes me feel just that much better, and hearing it live is just an indescribable moment.

Through My Heroine, once we got to the da, da, da, part of the song John let us finish, we stop waiting for him to continue, only he doesn’t, and he says every night the crowd always does that, just stops. He goes let’s see how awkward this can get. He just stands there on stage staring at us for the longest time. Finally, when he can’t take it anymore he lets us start up again, and we finish the song.

He says he wants us to move every part of our bodies because this is a rock show. Talk about live entertainment, and he wants the dads of the crowd to get into it too because we all payed for a ticket here, we’re all here for a good time, let’s make the most if it. He accomplished that, as the dads started to move.

As you know when We All Roll Along starts to play, the crowd is ready for that one line:

“81, 23, means everything to me”

I’m telling you the floor shook, that’s how hard we went. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a venue where the floor shook. It was awesome.

With the lights so perfectly in tune with their performance, it does everything to enhance the show. All five boys rock on stage and you can tell they pour their heart and soul into what they do.

I wasn’t really expecting them to play Raining in Paris, but they did, and everyone got out their phones, I saw a few lighters, and we all just swayed.

During Girls Do What They Want John invites this guy up on stage. He doesn’t know the words, I always find this interesting that the people who go up don’t know the words to this song, I’ve seen this happen twice now. Anyways, he asks if the girl he’s with is his girlfriend and the guy answers with: “I hope so”. So it became this whole let’s get them together hurrah. I’m not sure if they got together or not, but I think she said yes.

Ending the night with the classic: Another Night on Mars and of course you can imagine (if you’ve seen in their Instagram stories) it became this giant gang singalong, and it is moments like this that really make things that much more special.

Setlist:

1. Black Butterflies & Déjà Vu
2. Am I Pretty?
3. Like We Did (Windows Down)
4. (Un)Lost
5. My Heroine
6. We All Roll Along
7. The Way We Talk
8. English Girls
9. Take What You Can Carry
10. Lost in Nostalgia
11. Raining in Paris
12. Girls Do What They Want
13. Diet Soda Society
14. Do You Remember? (The Other Half of 23)
15. Bad Behavior
16. Another Night on Mars

When you go to see The Maine you get everything and that’s what makes it a thrilling show. It’s not just about the music that makes their show so amazing, it’s them as people and how they interact with their fans that make them so worth everything. I hope if you’re a fan of The Maine that if you have the opportunity to see them, you do. So. Worth. Everything.