Concert Review: The Maine - The Tour Next Door in Tucson, Arizona

Tessa Brainard
33 minutes ago
3 min read

Concert poster for The Maine - The Tour Next Door.

Celebrating nearly 20 years as a band, Arizona emo legends The Maine kicked off The Tour Next Door at La Rosa in Tucson, AZ. Since 2007, the band has stood out in the world of pop-punk, proudly representing their hometown of Tempe, AZ, and making local fans proud. As a born and raised Arizonan and longtime listener, The Maine are home-state heroes. I will never miss a performance when they come to town. Following the release of their 10th studio album, “Joy Next Door,” in April, The Tour Next Door is one to see.

For this tour, the band is performing two sets: one stripped-back acoustic set and a regular full-band set that brings the kind of energy The Maine is known for. This was a unique spin on the show I am used to seeing from them, and unlike anything I’ve seen from any other artists. It is simply a testament to their capability to try new things and pull them off with ease.

They started the quiet part of the set with “Bad Behavior,” a well-loved track from their sixth studio album, “Lovely Little Lonely.” Before this set, I had never considered what this track would sound like slowed down as an acoustic number, but the arrangement was impressive. Over the years, fans have come to love their electrifying live performances, and this was not lost during the acoustic set. They have always had a knack for connecting with their audience, and their stage presence was just as commanding as it always is, just in a new format this time.

They played a number of their older tracks, but also threw in a newer track, “And Then,” and a cover of Shania Twain’s famous “You’re Still The One,” which the crowd went wild for. They finished off the acoustic set with “How To Exit A Room” from their self-titled ninth album. This is one of my favorite tracks by The Maine, and it was the perfect way to close out the first half of the night.

After a 15-minute intermission and set change, the band returned to the stage for their regular full-band set. They kicked off the second half with a song from “Joy Next Door,” “Half a Spark.” This was the first time they had played “Half a Spark” since its release back in April, and it did not disappoint. Though the track is still relatively new, the audience knew the words and yelled them back with enthusiasm.

As a self-proclaimed “setlist diva” (a term coined by drummer Pat Kirch to describe fans who are extra opinionated about the setlist), I was satisfied by the mix of fan favorites and deep cuts, as well as the number of songs from their latest album. They played some of my favorite tracks, including “I Must Be Dreaming,” “Sticky” and “dose no. 2.” The crowd was on their feet all night, dancing and singing as loud as they could. The night ended on a high note with “Am I Pretty?” and “Black Butterflies and Deja Vu.”

After their stop in Tucson, The Maine played two California dates in Anaheim and Sacramento, and will support the band Grayscale on their European tour this September. The Maine will continue The Tour Next Door in November, with their next date in Newport, Kentucky on November 5, and will return to Arizona for their biennial festival, 8123 Fest. The Maine have a habit of outdoing themselves, and The Tour Next Door is no exception. I can’t wait to see them again at 8123, and I look forward to finding out what heights they reach next.

Tickets for The Tour Next Door and 8123 Fest are on sale now!

Written by Tessa Brainard