Bleachers’ 2-night cover to cover album shows were the band’s biggest love letter to their fans. In so many ways, this was a celebration. Not only of the brand new 3,000+ capacity Boston venue Roadrunner the shows took place in, but of how much the band has grown and what is to come.
Brooklyn power pop band Charly Bliss joined Bleachers as an opener for both shows. This marked the band’s return to live after a pretty long break, and better than ever before. They played a mix of staples and handful of music they have never played or released, which warmed up the excitement of the crowd for what was to come.
The first night Bleachers played their debut album Strange Desire from front to back, and several of the less popularized tracks on the album for the first time. The second night Jack Antonoff walked on stage wearing the full costume seen on the cover of their 2017 sophomore album Gone Now and played that album in full for the first time too. As they played through the album he threw the entire Gone Now costume into the crowd piece by piece. “This is the album you get when you’re in a relationship you’re not supposed to be in, and you’re torturing yourself trying to figure shit out… I just felt so gone now…” Antonoff added as an interlude to a reprise track that signals the album is almost over. There were so many sentimental moments for both the band and the fans. Some moments even felt cathartic and made it seem like this show was special in a different way to Antonoff, like he was letting go of the circumstances which the album was made under.
Jack Antonoff & co. were no strangers to playing live when they debuted the band 8 years ago, but the group has done something very few can pull off nowadays: continuously evolve and grow. While Bleachers’ fan base has grown exponentially recently, so has their live sound & performance. Since their inception they have added a second drummer, and recently a second saxophone. There is a reason that they just sold out an upcoming Red Rocks show & have a summer show booked at the Forum in Los Angeles. A countless number of fans at these shows had actually traveled across the country or from other countries. Bleachers just keep blowing away audiences and gaining committed fans.
Antonoff frequently talks during his live shows about the value of live in the music world and how the music industry as a whole learned just how important it was when it was taken away during the pandemic. Bleachers have already pulled off a full U.S. tour post-pandemic but the palpable excitement on stage continues to come across like it’s the only show that has ever mattered, which places them at the very top of the list of best live bands to see right now. You can view photos from the show below and find the full list of upcoming Bleachers tour dates here.
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