As you may expect from a band that calls themselves The Maine despite being formed in Phoenix, Arizona twelve years ago, the quintet does not do anything conventionally. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

As has become customary for their live shows, the band walked out in matching suits. For this “The Mirror” tour, the suits featured a black coat with a copper undershirt. The packed house inside the House of Blues Anaheim welcomed the band with screams and applause on Thanksgiving eve, looking forward to a night that was sure to be unexpected. However, one thing was certain, The Maine were set to put on a killer show, as they always do.

The band opened with the powerful Slip the Noose, a track from their 7th studio album, “You Are OK”, which was released earlier this year. The track allows for isolated vocals of lead singer John O’Callaghan, while also containing upbeat drum fills and guitar sections. The song has great sing-along ability, which made it a great choice for the opening song of the night.

One of the most charismatic frontmen I have seen on stage, O’Callaghan demanded crowd energy from the opening note. And the crowd was happy to oblige. Tracks that spanned from their first album Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop released back in 2007 all the way up to their most recent record were all met with warm reception from the audience. A few crowd surfers made their way from the back of the music hall all the way up to the stage and were greeted by a high five from O’Callaghan, who only encourages such behavior.

I have attended many concerts in my life (as evidenced here https://scoresandchords.com/concert-archive/ ), and you’ll notice that The Maine tops the list. I have seen them in many settings, from intimate shows at a House of Blues to outdoor festivals including Warped Tour or their own 8123 Fest in Phoenix, Arizona. Every Maine show is unique and interesting. You may think you know what you’re in for, but they will always find a way to surprise you.

That is what we should come to expect from a band that went independent shortly into its career. After producing its third studio album without much consultation from the record company, the band struggled to release the record for a year. Finally, the group received permission to release the album Pioneer without being under Warner Bros. Following the delayed release, The Maine decided to create its own independent label, 8123. Being under their own umbrella, the quintet has excelled in releasing albums that are in unique styles while remaining identifiable records from the group.

Highlights from the first half included Don’t Come Down and Am I Pretty?, top tracks from the albums Lovely Little Lonely and American Candy, respectively. The two records are very different stylistically, yet they are both unmistakably from the same band. The Maine has a way of putting a stamp on any song that they release, while showcasing an impressive amount of variety across genres. From the album that settled within the top 5 of several Billboard charts, Don’t Come Down makes for a terrific opening track for an album and a song well-suited for the stage. The guitar riff isolated with O’Callaghan’s vocals creates a catchy start before the drum fill enters and the energy of the song really takes off. The song was a great opportunity for John to ask for energy from the crowd, and he was met with just that. Nearly every member of the packed crowd inside the House of Blues Anaheim was dancing and jumping along to every chorus.

While certainly containing different musical elements, Am I Pretty? flows nicely with all of The Maine’s discography. The song features percussions almost immediately, which causes it to have a greater pace and more energy right off the bat. However, trademark elements of the group are still present. These include O’Callaghan’s vocals over the top of subtle, yet incredibly catchy guitar riffs and an arrangement that flows but keeps the listener intrigued. The song, like many off American Candy, showcases the diversity of the group and features interesting instrumentals, vocal effects, and harmonies.

Always keeping the crowd on their toes, the lights went dark and the band disappeared off stage at the conclusion of How do you Feel? A short time later, O’Callaghan emerged within the sound booth in the center of the crowd. Equipped with an acoustic guitar, he called out to the crowd asking for requests. He strung together some chords and belted along with the crowd to songs that included All Star by Smash Mouth, Sugar We’re Going Down by Fall Out Boy, and the emo anthem Welcome to the Black Parade by the recently reunited My Chemical Romance. Eventually, he treated the crowd to an acoustic vesion of the track (Un)Lost. The moment was one of the few in which the crowd remained relatively quiet to allow O’Callaghan’s vocals to echo within the music hall.

A video intro prefaced the track Tears Won’t Cry, off the new record “You Are OK”. The song was a terrific follow-up to the short acoustic set, and it instantly revived the crowd energy. The drums always stand out on this song to me. Pat Kirch is a terrific drummer within the genre, and his skills are showcased throughout this upbeat track.

Black Butterflies and Deja Vu and Numb Without You made for great live songs, and they were both performed exceptionally. The crowd energy remained at a high level throughout the entire set. Whether the song was from an early album or the album just released several months ago, it seemed to be met with plenty within the audience who knew every word.

I felt that the setlist was well organized and effectively featured the band’s entire discography. Six songs were performed from You Are OK and five from Lovely Little Lonely. The rest of the 18 song setlist featured works from the group’s entire 12 year career. I always say that if you find yourself wishing the band played other songs, that is just a tribute to your interest in the band and their ability to put out great tracks. Like any loyal fan, I would have liked to hear more from Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, but as that album recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary and was played prominently on tours around that time.

Setlist courtesy of Setlist.FM

While video clips were played throughout the concert on the wall behind the stage, the video that preceded the final song of the night made for a special moment. As I have mentioned, The Maine are not your traditional band. They did not opt for an encore, as has become customary for nearly every concert nowadays. Instead, they made it clear to everybody that this would be the final song. And as the video played that showed members of the band talking about their experiences, every member of the band came together on stage to observe the video. To watch it together. Keep in mind, this was not an early night of the tour. Every member of the band feels this. They believe in the work they put out. They live it. I found it as a powerful moment before they jumped into the finale.

The 9:23 marathon of a track is certainly not your traditional closer. For an album or for a concert. But it serves as exactly that. As would any song with its length, Flowers on the Grave features many changes in pace, pauses, and instrumental shifts. The track is a fitting end to an album that promotes self-love, empowerment, and mental health. The Maine made this album for their fans. They made it to bring happiness to those going through a tough time. For those who have supported the band from its start on Myspace to its graduation as a group with its own independent label. I already knew it was genuine. That it was real. But the band standing up on stage admiring their video before performing the final song of the night just confirmed what I already knew.

The band was sent off with thunderous applause and joyous screams from the packed house that had impressively met the energy level that O’Callaghan had asked for all night. Each member gave a wave to the crowd before O’Callaghan gave his signature send off, “We’ll see you when we’re looking at you”

Whether you are an avid fan of The Maine, or this is your first time hearing of them, I hope that you enjoyed this read. I encourage you to explore their music, and if you get a chance to see them live, I really cannot recommend a better band to experience in concert. This will likely not be the last time I write about this amazing band.

Band Members

John O’Callaghan – lead vocals, piano

Jared Monaco – lead guitar

Garrett Nickelsen – bass

Patrick Kirch – drums, percussion

Kennedy Brock – rhythm guitar, backing vocals