Bleachers in Los Angeles: From the Studio to the Greek Theatre

Bleachers in Los Angeles: From the Studio to the Greek Theatre

On September 21, 2024, the stars were aligned in Los Angeles on a Saturday night as the Bleachers came to play their first show at the sold-out Greek Theatre. The ‘From the Studio to the Stage’ tour arrived at the busy LAX airport departing from its Europe and Japan tour dates. The Bleachers is led by legendary frontman and hitmaker, Jack Antonoff, who has produced songs such as Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Please Please Please’ and co-produced Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ album. The tour also featured opener Amy Allen, whose accolades include being nominated for the inaugural Songwriter of the Year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and winning Album of the Year for Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’. The city of Los Angeles was in for a treat as the jam-packed Greek Theatre was about to be see a performance for the ages.

Amy Allen

Amy Allen was the first to take the stage at the historic Greek Theatre. Amy is no stranger to the stage as she has opened for the Bleachers on their European leg of their ‘From the Studio to the Stage’ tour and One Republic’s ‘Never Ending Summer’ tour. Her setlist included songs such as ‘weirdo’ and ‘darkside’ from her recent self-titled debut album ‘amy allen’. The audience was captivated by her beautifully composed lyrics and melancholic melodies.

I was amazed that I can see the passion Amy puts into her lyrics, showcasing her mastery in songwriting. Amy’s work is evident in the songs that she has co-written with other artists. Her lyrics shine through her work which is a reason for her huge success within the music industry and being nominated for the inaugural Songwriter of the Year. I want to note that my favorite highlight of Amy’s performance was when she brought out her Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster in her opening sequence. It was a great addition to her amazing performance at the Greek Theatre.

Bleachers

From the Studio to the Greek Theatre, the Bleachers started the night off with their frontman, Jack Antonoff, looking up to a glowing light, almost as if he was lost but trying to find a guiding light. The first song ‘I am Right on Time’ is symbolic of that as it sets the important tone of finding yourself within the present and that we are fine where we are at the moment.

This was followed up by the upbeat 80’s inspired-like tune, ‘Modern Girl’. The saxophone-carried melody is a staple to the band’s identity differentiating them from other bands. I believe that the addition of saxophones creates an authentic sound resulting in emotion-filled, and soulful performances. This is evident in many of their songs such as ‘Everybody Lost Somebody’ and ‘Tiny Moves’. The crowd was singing along loudly as the Bleachers played classic hits such as ‘Rollercoaster’, ‘I Wanna Get Better’ and ‘Don’t Take the Money’. At one point during Rollercoaster, fans in the pit climbed on top of each other’s shoulders seeing Jack eye to eye. Fans were roaring and jumping creating an unreal atmosphere filled with energy I have not quite seen in a long time.

A highlight of the performance was when the set changed as the backdrop rose showing a replica of the iconic Electric Lady Studios in New York, founded by Jimi Hendrix. This was a great addition to the performance symbolizing a facet of Jack’s life and work. I captured an image that I believe captures what happens inside Jack’s mind, almost like seeing an old documentary. The night was filled with surprises like guest appearances from Sabrina Carpenter to a couple becoming engaged during ‘Wake Me’ and ‘Let’s Get Married’. The stars were definitely aligned during that night in Los Angeles.

Catch the Bleachers at their next performances! https://www.bleachersmusic.com/tour/

Avril Lavigne & Simple Plan in Winnipeg: The Greatest Hits Tour

Avril Lavigne & Simple Plan in Winnipeg: The Greatest Hits Tour

As Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits tour entered town, Canada Life Centre was rockin’ on a sold-out Saturday night. The Greatest Hits tour features openers such as Fefe Dobson, and Simple Plan. The star-studded all-Canadian lineup returned from their recent USA stops to create a rock-and-roll storm in Canada’s western provinces. To note, Winnipeg is also Simple Plan’s final stop with the tour, making it memorable for all who attended. It was exciting as the early 2000s nostalgia took over everyone in Canada Life Centre.

Fefe Dobson: A new opener

Fefe Dobson joins the opening lineup for the first time in Winnipeg, continuing to the final two stops of the tour in Edmonton and Calgary. She started the night off with her top-charting single ‘Ghost’. The crowd immediately recognized the song and started singing along to the catchy hit. Fefe knows how to energize the Winnipeg crowd as the city was one of her stops from her tour last year. Fefe also brought out ‘Shut Up and Kiss Me’ from her recent album, Emotion Sickness. The music video for the single premiered on August 1st. The new single showcases the growth of Fefe’s songwriting throughout her career, maturing over time. Fefe ended her set with ‘Stuttering’ as nostalgia hit the sold-out crowd in the Winnipeg arena.

Simple Plan: The Final Stop

This is Simple Plan’s final stop of the Greatest Hits Tour with Avril Lavigne making it a special moment for the Canadian Pop-Punk Band and their fans in Winnipeg. This wasn’t their first rodeo in Winnipeg as they performed at the Burton Cummings Theatre in 2017. The Winnipeg crowd welcomed Simple Plan’s return by returning the same energy the band delivered throughout their performance. Simple Plan’s setlist consisted of crowd-favourite songs with the addition of recent hits from their recent album. From opening with ‘I’d Do Anything’, to one of my favourites ‘Jet Lag’, to covering ‘Mr. Brightside, and having Scooby-doo mascots on stage. It took me back to a time when I was a kid listening to these songs on my iPod Nano. My favourite part of the night was when Chuck switched with Pierre as the lead singer and crowd surfed through the Winnipeg crowd.

Avril Lavigne: The Pop-Punk Princess Returns

The pop-punk princess, Avril Lavigne, marks her 25th year performing with the Greatest Hits Tour. Her legendary career has taken her from a small town in Ontario to across the world with multiple tours, achieving many accolades and milestones. She starts the show with crowd-favourite ‘Girlfriend’ resulting in the crowd roaring in a nostalgic uproar. The Winnipeg crowd was also spoiled with her Greatest Hits (Tour) with songs like Complicated, My Happy Ending and Sk8er Boi. The show was filled with an amazing light show of bright pink and blues. This was coupled with on-screen visuals showing nostalgic moments from popular music videos and designs that symbolized her music, from classic hits to her evolving style with recent albums.

I believe that the Greatest Hits Tour is a testament to her lasting legacy as one of the greatest Canadian artists of all time. Avril’s classic hits have reached many fans throughout the years, from old to new. Her music spans across continent to continent which proves that music can leave a lasting impression in the hearts of many, no matter what era you are from.