Around this time last year, AJR, a pop band consisting of three brothers — Adam, Jack and Ryan Met — released an album titled “The Maybe Man.” Their music typically features horn and synth-heavy songs that cover a wide variety of relatable, hard-hitting topics. This was true of “The Maybe Man,” which was released shortly after their father passed away.
Although none of the songs from this album topped charts like “Bang!” and “Sober Up” did, fans like myself, loved it.
So when AJR announced “The Maybe Man Tour,” there was no question that I wanted to go.
I got tickets to see the July 25 show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nosebleeds, of course, because like every college student, I have no money. The tour was their seventh time headlining in the City of Brotherly Love.
As they kicked off their jaw-dropping show with their songs “Yes I’m A Mess” and “Sober Up,” I noticed a multitude of cameras throughout the venue.
It’s normal to have some cameras around during a concert, to show the artist on stage on the back screen for the audience to see them better, and also to capture fan reactions.
One camera stuck out to me. It was attached on a crane-like structure, where the base of the crane was on the side of the pit. The camera itself was suspended over the pit, moving around over the crowd.
After the first two songs, Jack, the lead singer, started the obligatory “beginning of the show” speech. He thanked the crowd for coming to the show and introduced himself and his brothers. But then, their normal script shifted.
“Philadelphia, there is one more item of business before we continue, I think some of you might’ve noticed we’re filming the show tonight,” Jack said. “Yes, this is the one, we’re filming the one show and this is it.”
The crowd went wild as the crane-camera contraption fanned over the pit. People held their signs up to the camera, hoping to get noticed.
“If you see any cameras around, just promote your shit. Business, SoundCloud, why not, right? When are you going to get another opportunity?” Jack said.
Now three months after the live performance, I get to see this scene play out from a very different angle. AJR announced on Oct. 3 that they would release the taping of the concert on Oct. 16.
This wasn’t just any recording of the concert, it was “The Maybe Man Tour Immersive Concert Experience,” provided by Moment, a company recently purchased by Patreon.
I bought a ticket to see this “immersive experience,” a bit skeptical given that I had just spent $16.87 to see a concert I had already seen.
The band promoted that they would live stream the concert on Moment, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Oct. 16. Unfortunately for me, I had a night class that same day. But I was told by a friend that even though I couldn’t view the live stream, I would still be able to watch it on my own time.
So on Saturday, I sat down to watch the show… again.
It was nice seeing the performance up close, compared to the nosebleed seats I had. I appreciated even more the way the band put so much energy into every song, now seeing their expressions better. They even put cameras on the trumpet, an instrument that is used in most of their songs.
Another aspect I liked about this digital performance was getting to listen and watch some of the songs that they put a twist to, such as “Bang!” Fans have been demanding this percussion-heavy version of the song to be put on Spotify for months, but to no avail.
Throughout the performance, the cameras pan to audience members, dancing and singing to the songs. The energy from the crowd in the digital experience reminded me of the energy I felt while seeing the concert at the Wells Fargo Center.
However, nothing will ever beat the experience of being at the actual concert. Being surrounded by people who are all there for the same purpose and passion for music is something that can’t be replaced by a chat on a live stream.
I could see how this opportunity would be a good alternative for people who might have not been able to go to the concert itself. Whether they live too far from a venue or are on a tight budget, this gives people a chance to see the performance when they might’ve not otherwise.
It was fun to look back at the performance again, but I will always prefer to go see a concert live. The energy, the fans and the live performance are just hard to beat.
