Photos by Rebecca Clark | Review by Rebecca Clark and Renee Clark Quade

There’s a difference between watching a band perform and feeling like you’ve stepped into their world. Bleachers made CMAC feel like the latter on Saturday night on the Bleachers Forever Tour.

The evening kicked off with Wednesday, a female-fronted band whose sound blended grunge, alternative rock, and moments of southern rock influence. Frontwoman Karly Hartzman sang each song with an emotional intensity that was impossible to miss. They didn’t move around the stage much, but they didn’t need to because their sound did the heavy lifting. Their performance was tight, confident, and served as the perfect warm-up for what was to come. After wishing the crowd a Happy Solstice, they continued to win over early arrivals with a set that sounded just as strong as it felt.

As the lights dimmed and Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played through the venue, anticipation continued to build. When Bleachers finally took the stage, lead vocalist Jack Antonoff appeared high atop a massive set, singing in front of what looked like an oversized vintage studio console. The black-and-white checkered stage floor below tied it all together, creating a setup that felt distinctly Bleachers, and even more so once it was clear the entire stage was a replica of Antonoff’s actual recording studio.

A few songs into the set, Antonoff picked up a harmonica during “the van,” an instrument that would appear throughout the night and add another layer to the band’s already expansive sound. During one early song, he instructed the crowd to get low before drawing attention to a fan-made sign that read, “The louder you scream, the louder he blows.” As the audience erupted, the band’s saxophone player stepped forward and unleashed one of many standout solos of the evening.

That interaction perfectly captured the atmosphere throughout the night. The crowd was intertwined and felt like they were part of it.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of seeing Bleachers live was watching how connected the band members are with one another. Throughout the set they rotated instruments, gathered together on stage, shared laughs, and broke into synchronized dances, creating a genuine sense of brotherhood that extends far beyond simply playing music together. That dynamic is built on years of collaboration with longtime musicians Mikey Freedom Hart, Sean Hutchinson, Evan Smith, Michael Riddleberger, and Zem Audu, who officially became full members of Bleachers in 2023, moving seamlessly between instruments and roles as the set unfolded.

The acoustic portion of the evening offered a different side of the band, with stripped-down performances of “91,” which was an acoustic debut on the tour, “Isimo,” and “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call.” These quieter moments gave the audience a chance to appreciate the songwriting at the heart of Bleachers’ music.

Later in the evening, Antonoff jokingly asked the crowd if they wanted more. After a thunderous response, he replied, “How dare you want more,” before launching into the song of the same name. The moment became even more special when his father, Rick Antonoff, joined the band on guitar.

“Rollercoaster” showcased the band’s synth-heavy side and brought to mind bands like Action Action, while “Tiny Moves” was accompanied by a spinning disco ball that transformed part of the venue into a dance floor. At the end of the song, Antonoff paused to sign a fan’s sign before moving on.

The crowd reached another level during “Don’t Take the Money,” with fans loudly singing every word back to the stage. By the time the band played “upstairs at els,” Antonoff had the audience fully engaged, asking if they wanted to come upstairs with him.

Antonoff continued taking time to interact with fans, signing items and making even a large venue feel surprisingly intimate.

During “I wanna Get Better” Antonoff had thousands of fans crouching down before during the bridge and then jumping up together and dancing as the music exploded into the chorus, which was reminiscent of what Butch Walker does at his shows. The energy never really dipped, whether it was during upbeat favorites like “Take You Out Tonight” and “Don’t Take the Money” or some of the night’s more intimate moments.

The evening closed with “Stop Making This Hurt,” before the band gathered together in a tight huddle center stage. The moment felt less like a formal ending and more like a group of friends sharing one final moment before exiting. As Antonoff declared, “Bleachers forever,” it was hard not to feel the sense of connection that has helped make the band so beloved.

Watching Bleachers live also offered a new appreciation for Antonoff’s work as a songwriter and producer. His use of harmonica, layered instrumentation, and melodic textures throughout the night made it easy to recognize sonic elements that appear across projects he’s involved in outside of Bleachers as well.

Most recently, that same harmonica feels especially prominent on Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a detail that stood out as a clear marker of his influence bleeding into her sound in a new way. The harmonica itself also feels more present on Bleachers’ latest album everyone for ten minutes, reinforcing it as one of those subtle but recognizable threads in his production style. At the same time, the band’s sound remains uniquely their own.

There are traces of New Jersey throughout their music. You can hear hints of Bruce Springsteen, touches of Brian Fallon and The Gaslight Anthem, flashes of emo influences, and plenty of ‘80s-inspired synth-pop. Add in soaring saxophone lines and layered arrangements, and the result feels almost cinematic at times. Their music comfortably blends rock, pop, indie, and emo influences into something that appeals to a wide range of listeners. At moments, Jack Antonoff’s vocal sound also carries a subtle David Bowie influence, most noticeably during “you and forever,” where his phrasing and tone leaned into something more theatrical and introspective.

Beyond the music, Bleachers also created an environment that reflected the band’s values. Fans could stop by a photo booth, sign a guestbook, and visit The Ally Coalition’s table. Co-founded by Jack Antonoff and his sister Rachel in 2013, The Ally Coalition advocates for LGBTQ+ equality and trans rights. Attendees could write messages to elected officials on postcards that would be mailed on their behalf and add their thoughts to a community message wall. It was a meaningful addition to the concert experience and a reminder that for Bleachers, community extends beyond the stage.

From the music to the atmosphere to the sense of connection shared between the band and its fans, Bleachers turned a Saturday night at CMAC into something much bigger than a concert. It felt like being welcomed into a community, if only for a few hours.

BLEACHERS FOREVER!

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