It was emo pop-punk band, The Maine’s, 16th birthday at First Avenue this last week. Dedicated fans made their way to downtown Minneapolis to pack the house and enjoy a spectacular evening full of passion, emotion, and connection. Opening up the show were two of my personal favorites, Daisy Grenade and flor. The three band set made for an unforgettable night that was definitely one of my favorites of the year.
First up on the mainstage was Daisy Grenade. The band has had a massive 2023 and managed to put themselves on the playlists of thousands of new fans after opening for popular bands Waterparks and Fall Out Boy. It was my second time catching their energy packed set this year, the first being their opening set for Waterparks back in May. The duo did not disappoint and hyped the crowd up with their classic 2000’s-esque pop-punk sound.
Next was flor. The Oregon based band matched their predecessor’s energy perfectly with a jam packed indie pop set. The trio recently released a single titled, “Same Color as the Sun”, that fans of bands like HUNNY, Coin, and The Band Camino would absolutely love. Definitely check it out!
Finally it was time for The Maine. One of my favorite parts of the emo genre are the true connections that are formed between fans and artists at each and every show. This show was no different. Lead singer, John O’Callaghan, made his way into the audience midway through the set and sang alongside passion-filled fans, creating lifelong memories for attendees. Their set perfectly blended songs from all nine of their albums and with each new song, more and more fans sang along. I know I’ve already said it, but it truly was one of my favorite shows of the year.
There’s still quite a few shows left on The Maine’s Sweet Sixteen Tour and you cannot miss it. Catch them while you can!
Daisy Grenade
flor
The Maine
