CONCERTS & EVENTS — Unclear Magazine

The sky blue and burnt orange watercolor backdrop appeared with Dean Lewis in capitalized white letters. Dean walked to the microphone stand lined with orange guitar picks just eager to be thrown into the crowd. “It comes and goes in waves // And carries us away,” sang Dean as he held up the guitar and strummed it swiftly. He closed his eyes, and let emotion carry his soft yet powerful vocals. The crowd clapped to the chorus of “7 Minutes” as Dean stepped down onto the large speakers to engage with them briefly. “I love it!” yelled Dean after forming a hand heart back to a fan. As the set continued, Dean took the crowd on a rollercoaster ride that crashed into his psyche and gave a glimpse of troubling times.

“I’m about to sing a depressing song. It’s just my thing,” confirmed Dean before performing “Half A Man” on the piano. The songwriting described how difficult it is to love someone when you don’t love yourself, similar to that of a “sinking ship that is burning.” His vocals were bone-chilling, and the audience could feel every word down to their very core. Dean made sure to include his newest single “Last Bit Of Us” during his performance. The track was so well crafted it felt as if the whole arena was present in the room when he said goodbye to the one he loved for the last time. The vibrato in Dean’s vocals accompanied with the view of him sitting at the piano in a sleek all-black suit was picture-worthy. The little sing-along to “Be Alright” was the perfect way to close out the show. “I love your accents,” said Dean in his Australian accent clear as day.

Despite the collection of sad songs with lyrics that can move mountains, Dean radiated happiness and was a ray of sunshine in human form. It was obvious he loves to perform, and there is nowhere else he would rather be. We will be seeing more of Dean as he releases his third studio album this year, and announces an American tour in just a few weeks. Life comes in waves, but Dean Lewis is our constant anchor.

“Can we skip to the good part?” AJR blew the roof off of Gainbridge Fieldhouse during their stop in Indianapolis on The Maybe Man tour. Their mind blowing visuals, thought-provoking songwriting, and indie-pop/electro-pop sound captured the crowd’s attention from start to finish. The trio of brothers, Ryan (ukulele, piano, vocals), Jack (vocals, guitar), and Adam (bass, vocals), and the rest of their band were vibing and dancing collectively with the 11,000 fans in attendance. Everyone was grinning ear to ear, and it was clear there was nowhere else they would rather be. “I feel like we’ve been working our whole lives for this moment,” stated Jack into the microphone as the crowd cheered.

AJR has been a band for 20 years now, and have played in Indianapolis for 10 of them. Back then they performed at Deluxe at Old National Centre to a couple hundred people. Fast forward to tonight where they entertained thousands at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during their first ever headlining arena tour. “Indianapolis, we love you and always have,” said Jack as the trio stood in disbelief and endless amounts of gratitude. Fans who have attended shows throughout the years were scattered throughout the venue, and Jack pointed out someone in the pit that he recognized. The brothers prioritize connecting with their fanbase, and this evening they selected a kid named Sam with a sign saying “Rock, paper, scissors for Jack’s hat?” He was brought on stage, and he did in fact win the competition with the crowd roaring in support. AJR warmed the hearts of everyone further by performing a fan-made mashup of their songs “I Won’t” and “Birthday Party.” “Put your hands up ‘cause I won’t (right on time),” sang AJR as the crowd bounced their hands up and down to the beat.

AJR certainly knows how to keep you on your toes. At one point, the band suddenly appeared in the seats of section 223 and performed “World’s Smallest Violin” and “Steve’s Going to London.” Fans were ecstatic, and AJR checked “play a song in the crowd” off their bucket list. Once they returned to the stage, the energy in the room was at an even higher level than before. As flames were blazing on the screen during “Burn The House Down,” everyone’s hands were in the air with Ryan keeping the momentum going. Jack was frolicking around the stage with his signature 360 spin making an appearance, and Adam swayed back and forth as he shredded those bass lines. The most unique portion of the show involved the trio taking the crowd behind the scenes, and teaching them how they produced “Way Less Sad” piece by piece. They utilized a beat pad to break down what sounds were involved, including a plate hitting the table and the way Ryan had said a phrase. Props, such as a restaurant table with a striped tablecloth and a camera, were used to enhance the experience. The core of the track consisted of bits and pieces of various home movies rearranged in a specific order. Once class was dismissed, AJR performed “Way Less Sad” in its entirety and it certainly was well worth the years it took to perfect it.

The minds of concert-goers were already blown, and yet the visuals on the 3D screen for each track catapulted them into another stratosphere. One moment you were feeling dizzy while traveling quickly through rainbow colored liquid and ice during “Sober Up.” The next moment Jack was dangling from the ceiling during “Yes I’m A Mess.” The screen made it appear as if Jack was riding a bike, skiing down a mountain, and driving a car. “I could hate my guts when the sun comes up // But I guess that’s what this is // I like myself like this,” sang Jack as he disappeared. Red lasers went in every direction as a rapid beeping noise ensued. The car on the screen instantly exploded into a bunch of pieces and flew at the audience with smoke billowing out of the machines. AJR then took fans to outer space during “Inertia” with extras dressed in astronaut suits, and later to the ocean with houses hanging from above during “2085” to close out the show.

Before finishing the track and ending the show with a bang, Jack gave a heartfelt speech that brought tears to the eyes of many. He spoke about their father who was their biggest supporter, and passed away last year. Jack mentioned a life-altering phrase their father had said: “Someday you will find people that see the world the way you do.” He went on to say his father was right, and the thousands of people standing in the arena were proof of that. The incessant amount of effort, dedication, and pure love AJR puts into their music and live experience is unmatched. Their willingness to re-invent pop music is impressive and refreshing. AJR has created a whole new world with their art, and it certainly is one that is here to stay.

Words by Brittany Ormiston

Photos by Everly Ormiston