The Maine Have Become Pop Punk’s Dads (and That’s a Good Thing)
Out on the road in support of their tenth studio album, Joy Next Door, The Maine have not eased up one bit in their nearly two decades on the road.
The Maine have become staples in their genre, transcending from the young up-and-comers to a sort of father figure in the scene. The Arizona rockers popped onto the scene with 2008’s Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, touring with mid-2000’s emo and rock legends such as Good Charlotte and Mayday Parade. Runs with All Time Low and Dashboard Confessional would dot their 2010’s, a decade that saw the release of their album Lovely Little Lonely and its hit “Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu.” One could wager this is about the time the perception of the band shifted. Their days as spunky openers and strong support started quickly fading, with the band now beginning to uplift the artists around them. This time around, the band brought along Nightly, Grayscale, and Nashville’s own Moody Joody.
The Maine opened their set with “Another Night on Mars,” a chaotic singalong riot from their 2016 album American Candy. Frolicking keys, rhythmic acoustic, and a warm electric hook immediately draw the listener in before the band transitions into the arena-ready chorus. While not necessarily a deep cut, this was certainly an interesting pick for the opening track from a band with as extensive of a back catalog as The Maine, especially while on a new album cycle. That being said, it clearly didn’t seem to matter. The audience knew every word and did not hesitate to make it known, very quickly jumping in to join with the chorus. It can be quite difficult to engage an audience in Nashville, the city is known for having a tough crowd full of industry know-it-alls and all-around music snobs, so for a band to so quickly connect is really outstanding to see.
“i think about you all the time,” another relatively low-profile song in the band’s catalog, came in next. Heavy on the synths, the song pairs snappy percussion and a rumbling bass to get the song rolling fast. It is high energy, seeing singer John O’Callaghan cast aside the acoustic for true frontman duties. He commands the stage, and the audience, already high off of the opener, has officially popped. The band utilizes some fantastic harmonies here, a skill that can often get overlooked as basic background vocals really shines through a rather thick mix. The music is dense, yet The Maine manage to let the highlights breathe.
Rounding out the first three with “Die To Fall,” the lead single from Joy Next Door, the band has yet to miss a beat. This one’s dramatic intro quickly devolves into a sharp and punchy anthem. The Maine has managed to not only evolve their sound, continuing their march towards more modern production and catchier tracks, but also maintain the songwriting and raw appeal that first drew in their fans. “Die To Fall” really showcases that, sounding more akin to a remastered demo than a drastic pivot. O’Callaghan once again has a fantastic flow, effortless jumping between multiple cadences and keeping listeners on their toes. This band’s energy is relentless, consistently putting their full foot forward song after song.
Setlist
Another Night on Mars
i think about you all the time
Die To Fall
Sticky
Like we Did (Windows Down)
Taxi
Touch
dose no. 2
Kennedy Curse
The Sound of Reverie
Love You a Little (ft. Charlotte Sands)
Palms
We All Roll Along
Bad Behavior
Slip the Noose
My Heroine
Quite Part Loud
blame
Take Me Dancing (ft. Nightly, Grayscale, and Moody Joody)
Right Girl
Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu
The Maine have certainly changed over the years. Gone are the emo swoops and van tours, replaced with curated eras and tour buses. This band has grown a lot, and I believe the scene has grown around them. We see more and more bands citing The Maine as their inspiration, more and more bands eager to tour a head of them, and a firm planting of The Maine’s metaphorical flag on the sound they inhabit. They’ve become pop punk’s dads, lifting up the younger acts and paving the way forward. I believe that’s a good thing, and I reckon they’re going to carry that torch for a good long while.
The Maine still has a handful of domestic dates left on this run alongside a few one-offs. For those in the central Tennessee area, the band will be just a couple of hours south in Albertville, AL this August. Otherwise, The Maine will be headed off to Europe for a headline run through September.
You can find all of The Maine’s upcoming tour dates here.