The Maine in Minneapolis

Friday Pilots Club

The night kicked off with Friday Pilots Club, a Chicago-based band that immediately grabbed my attention. I wasn’t familiar with them going in, but their strong electric guitar riffs made a lasting impression. Playing songs like “Vampire Disco” and “We Don’t Wanna Talk,” they delivered the perfect high-energy start to the night. From the photo pit, it was impossible to ignore how many fans were singing along to every word—this crowd clearly came ready for them.

Nightly & Grayscale

Next up was Nightly, from Nashville, TN. This was my second time seeing them in the past year, and I was so excited to catch their set again. Their discography strikes a great balance between upbeat, danceable tracks and slower songs that hit you right in the feelings. They played fan favorites like “hate my favorite band” and “twenty something,” along with “TV shows,” which has become a personal favorite of mine. As expected, they didn’t disappoint—this set was a reminder of why I’ll always jump at the chance to see them live.

 

Grayscale closed out the opening acts with a noticeably darker, moodier set. They steadily built intensity from start to finish, bringing a more edgy energy compared to the earlier performers. Even without knowing every song, they commanded attention the entire time. It was the kind of set that makes you wish you had memorized the lyrics beforehand just so you could scream them along with everyone else. They were the perfect transition into the night’s headliner.

The Maine

After three standout openers, the crowd was more than ready for The Maine. Adding to the excitement, their 10th album dropped just minutes after the show ended—you could feel that anticipation throughout the entire night, not just from the fans, but from the band themselves.

Throughout the set, lead singer John O’Callaghan repeatedly expressed gratitude for being able to avoid “real jobs” for the past 20 years, a sentiment that clearly resonated with the crowd. The band mixed in new material like “Palms” and “Die to Fall” with fan favorites including “Taxi,” “Right Girl,” and “I Think About You All the Time.”

One of the standout moments came when John stepped off the stage, directly onto the barricade, and into the crowd, inviting a lucky fan to help finish a song—an unforgettable experience for everyone watching.

Toward the end of the night, The Maine brought all of the opening bands back on stage for “Take Me Dancing,” creating a collaborative moment I’ve never seen before at a show.

Whether you were there for the new music or the songs that have been around for nearly two decades, the setlist struck the perfect balance between past and present. One thing’s certain—I won’t be missing the next opportunity to see The Maine live.
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