On Nov. 16, AJR invited the city of Boston to Boston University’s Agganis Arena to experience an event like no other: the Neotheater. AJR—a pop band comprised of brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met—released their third studio album, “Neotheater,” this past April, and in September, the trio began their world tour, taking them to dozens of cities across the US and Europe.
The Neotheater World Tour has almost completely sold out, and it is not difficult to see why. AJR has created a concert experience like nothing ever seen before, with outstanding graphics and incredible energy, blending together mediums in a truly extraordinary show that raises the bar for concerts of all genres.
"Welcome to the Neotheater: Won't everybody take their seats"
While the setup of the stage—two levels with a screen in the background—seemed simple, AJR used it to its full potential, and their detailed and unique use of computer graphics added a cinematic element to the show. The band projected images and themes to highlight their songs, maintaining a balance that did not distract the audience from the music yet kept them engaged.
"Who are we to wonder where we're going? Who am I to wonder who I am?"
AJR also used the screen to share how they produced their song “Don’t Throw Out My Legos,” projecting exactly how it would look on a computer. It was obvious that the band had put a lot of time and effort into making sure the animations were perfect, not overbearing and without fading into the background.
"This is my imagination. This is how it looks and sounds"
Of course, in creating a cinematic experience, the band sacrificed what some might argue is a crucial part of a concert: audience interaction. Most of the show was scripted, leaving little room for AJR to connect to the crowd, except for a small bit where they called out members of the audience for being enthusiastic or humorous. However, the scripted parts of the show were very well done, and the energy of the band made up for the lack of improvised quips and comments.
Another interesting component of the show had to do with the structure and style of the album they were headlining the tour with, “Neotheater.” The tracklist for “Neotheater” is designed to be listened to in order, as the themes of the songs progress and develop together throughout the album. Because of this, AJR actually performed every single song on the album, although one of them was a solo by their trumpeter, JJ Kirkpatrick. The band was able to mix in some of their greatest hits from past albums, such as “Weak” and “Sober Up,” and their placement in the setlist allowed for a smooth transition between the various themes of “Neotheater.”
"A hundred bad days make a hundred good stories, a hundred good stories make me interesting at parties"
While Jack Met may be the lead singer of the band, everyone certainly got their time to shine on the stage, including their backup band: drummer Chris Berry and trumpeter Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick stunned the crowd with his extraordinary skill as a trumpet player, and he had a long solo where he showcased his abilities by playing hits from all of AJR’s previous albums.
Even though Adam Met had little to no solos of his own, his powerful bass kept the energy flowing throughout the performance. Ryan Met, on the other hand, bounced around from keyboard to synthesizer pad to vocals, and his performance of “Turning Out” and “Turning Out Part ii” added contrast to the electro-pop style of the show.
AJR is an independent band, and for them to sell out a tour of this scale is impressive, to say the least. However, when one listens to their music and attends one of their shows, it is not difficult to see why they have found such success on their own. For a band that produces all of their music in their living room, AJR shines on the stage and in the studio, and the Neotheater World Tour is reflective of their creativity and imagination. When Adam, Jack and Ryan Met invited Boston to the Neotheater, they invited them to an out of this world experience that has raised the bar for concerts and music.
"They wanted heaven from me, I gave them hell. Now they want something bigger- I'm overwhelmed. And if you're just as hopeless, I wish you well. We can't wait to see what you do next"