The Maine Return Home for a Sold-Out Night at The Van Buren: Review & Gallery
Returning home for the second show of their “I Love You, But I Choose The Maine” tour, The Maine sold out local venue The Van Buren, turning it into a massive celebration of where it all began nearly 20 years ago. Bringing both new and OG fans together is something The Maine excels at, with many returning to their shows each time they make their way back to Phoenix.
Kicking off the night was Franklin Jonas & The Bizantines, instantly bringing incredible energy into the room. With his strong stage presence, the crowd was quickly captivated and getting pumped for the remainder of the night’s lineup. Keeping the intimate vibe that The Maine brings to their shows, Jonas made his way into the crowd to dance and interact with fans. As the venue filled, the energy only continued to build. With his indie-pop/Americana sound, the group introduced a fresh dynamic to the show, leaving the crowd wanting more.
Next on the lineup was pop-punk/alternative band Grayscale, who shared many mutual fans with the headliner. Playing popular hits such as “PainKiller Weather” and “Dirty Bombs,” the crowd was on their feet dancing and jumping, with many singing along. With their captivating stage presence and devoted fanbase, you could almost believe this was a Grayscale headline show itself. Keeping the momentum alive throughout their set, they left the crowd wanting more, with many audience members openly discussing their love for the band afterward.
The opener sequence wrapped up with indie-pop favorites Nightly, who maintained the high energy brought by the previous performances. Playing fan favorites such as “Twenty Something” and “1989,” their vocals and instrumentals pulled the crowd into a captivating performance. Even as the third opener of the night, they held their own and made a strong impression as fans geared up for The Maine’s performance.
As The Maine took the stage, opening their electric set with “Thoughts I Have While Lying In Bed,” the room came alive once again. The band always delivers on stage, but for this tour, they went above and beyond with their production and presence. With a green landscape nodding to their soon-to-be-released album “Joy Next Door,” along with a couch positioned center stage on an elevated platform, it felt like watching the band perform within their natural element.
Continuing the set with fan favorites such as “Right Girl,” “We All Roll Along,” and “Blame,” the band switched up the setlist from their opening show the previous day, keeping the crowd captivated and guessing what might come next. They also included new releases from their upcoming album, including “Quiet Part Loud,” “Die To Fall,” and their song released the day prior, “Palms.” Fans experienced these tracks live for the first time, creating core memories during an already standout performance.
Closing the show, the band performed another fan favorite from their 2015 album “American Candy,” “Another Night On Mars.” Fans joined arm in arm, singing along after a heartfelt speech from the band expressing gratitude for their friends, family, and longtime fans who filled the audience, rounding out another memorable hometown show. We can’t wait to see where The Maine goes next in this new era and look forward to the next hometown celebration.
