On the heels of their fifth album, everyone for ten minutes, Bleachers hit the road for a two-leg tour. June 20 found them at CMAC, with Wednesday providing support.
No stranger to success and energetic shows, Jack Antonoff has led Bleachers since 2013. The former frontman of Fun. began Bleachers as a side project while on tour the previous two years. While he maintained that the former would stay together, it was short-lived as Fun. went on hiatus in 2015.
Along with Fun., Antonoff has worked closely with the likes of Taylor Swift, Lana Del Ray, Lorde, and Kendrick Lamar, winning thirteen Grammy’s along the way. This kind of success has definitely paved the way for his own project to hit the ground running, and 13 years and five studio albums later, Bleachers are bigger and better than ever.
Before fans could endure the theatrics from Antonoff and his crew, they were treated to the sounds of Wednesday; A little punk, a little goth, a touch of country, and double dose of attitude. Led by Karly Hartzman, Wednesday was formed in 2017 as a solo act and since had up to four other members.
Playing a roughly 45-minute set, Hartzman and her band led the growing crowd on a whirlwind of flavors for the ears. Subtle notes throughout and hints of 80s and 90s punk/grunge such as Liz Phair and Hole, Hartzman’s voice starts on the angelic side and then she hits you with Courtney Love-esque scream as she goes to her knees. No doubt that the diverse crowd was getting more and more into it as each song progressed.
Following a few shows with Bleachers, Wednesday supports Tyler Childres on select dates as well as a number of festivals before heading overseas. You want something new, unique, and special? Add Wednesday to your playlists.
Getting the stage ready for the headliner can either be a breeze or a cumbersome task. For the Bleachers set, this task was closer to cumbersome, taking about 35 minutes and about a dozen stage hands. With a plethora of props to arrange troubleshoot, this took due diligence as the helpers, had to make sure everything was precise. Risers and steps that resembled speakers faces, lights that emulated resistors or Telsa Coils. These all required special attention. When complete, the set up resembled a recording studio of sorts. Speakers, mixers, lights, and amps all throughout in various levels. Two drum kits, four sets of keys. All this has the packed lower bowl at CMAC writhing in anticipation.
8:45pm hit and fans are serenaded with Sinatra’s “My Way” in full, ultimately leading to the band’s entrance, followed by Bleachers rendition of Old Blue Eyes noted song. Simple and serene, yet full of energy waiting to explode, the cast was only cracking the shell of what would be an earth shaking 90-minute set.
With seven musicians on stage, this was a nothing short of a clinic on how to garner fans attention and keep it. There wasn’t a single person on stage who was limited to one part. Antonoff, Zem Audu, Mikey Hart, Sean Hutchinson, Michael Riddleberger, and Evan Smith work in amazing synchronicity to create an array of looks on stage. Antonoff going from guitar and keys, Hutchinson going from drums to bass, and Smith doing sax and plenty of vocals really show the complexity and flexibility of each musician. Sounds that take listeners back the saxophone and synthesizer era of music videos.
Starting the set with two tracks from everyone for ten minutes, Antonoff delivered an epic welcome for the patrons. With the thought provoking “Sideways” leading the way, followed by “The Van”, fans in it for long haul, as you can feel the floor shaking around you from the speakers set on 10 and the full lower bowl cheering and jumping up and down. With decibel levels above 90 for good part of the show, adrenaline was surely pumping from the stage into the veins of those facing the music.
Moving through the 23-song set, including seven from “everyone...” Antonoff inquires about where people are from. “Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo?” Each city receiving loud cheers as its spoken. He chirps back “All you motherfuckers came out tonight!”
The most fulfilling thing in the world is creating something that moves people.
J. Antonoff
23 flawless tracks later, fans are left on their toes, as Antonoff greets fans at the stage front for the second time. Fist bumps, high fives, and autographs were done with zero resistance, giving fans exactly what they came for. Even as the band cleared out with no encore, the cheers continued.
After the Bleachers show, it is clear as to why Jack Antonoff has 13 Grammy’s and why artists like Swift, Lamar, Pink, and Doja Cat have worked with him. Writing, performing, and proper use of skill sets around him have brought him to where he is today. Both sax players were impeccable and theatric. All four sets of keys had ample usage from multiple sets of hands, as were both drum kits. Vocals from everyone on stage, including guest appearance from Jacks father, Rick. While listening to Bleachers on streaming services has been good, hearing them live and in person elevates the experience tenfold. There is no comparison here, Bleachers is a must see.
Setlist: sideways, the van, Modern Girl, Jesus is Dead, Wild Heart, Everyboy Lost Somebody, Goodmorning, dirty wedding dress, we should talk, Chinatown, Don’t Go Dark, you and forever, 91 (acoustic, tour debut), Isimo, Merry Christmas Please Don’t Call, take you out tonight, How Dare You Want More (ft. Ricky Antonoff), Rollercoaster, Tiny Moves, Don’t The Money, upstairs at els, I Wanna Get Better, Stop Making This Hurt
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