The trio of brothers brought their tour Tuesday to a jam-packed Van Andel Arena, creating a nearly three-hour career retrospective. The review and photo gallery.
Brotherly Love: Jonas Brothers on stage at Van Andel Arena. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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For an excellent example of a band whose fan base has grown and evolved at the same pace as the artists, look no further than the Jonas Brothers .
Once written off as a cheesy boy band for kids, the trio of Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas are now cranking out hits for mainstream radio and selling out arenas to a mostly adult audience.
During Tuesday’s Grand Rapids tour stop at Van Andel Arena, the Jonas Brothers played select tracks from five of their albums — “Jonas Brothers,” “A Little Bit Longer,” “Lines, Vines, and Trying Times,” “Happiness Begins,” and “The Album” — as well as a short detour into Joe and Nick’s solo endeavors, resulting in a nearly three-hour show.
If the fact that Joe Jonas announced two gender reveals and a pregnancy tonight isn’t indicative of the average age range for Jonas Brothers fans in 2023, I don’t know what is. The band fully embraced their adult audience by performing songs about fatherhood (“Little Bird”) and marriage (“Love Her”) from their two latest records.
But that’s not to say they don’t lean into the nostalgia of their older tracks. Before each album segment, a highlight reel of moments from the era played on-screen, including music video clips that once aired on Disney Channel and behind-the-scenes footage from past tours.
The near sellout crowd kept their energy up throughout the entire show, but the chorus of voices singing along was noticeably louder during fan favorites such as “Burnin’ Up” and the band’s beloved rendition of Busted’s “Year 3000.”
Impressive Backing Band: Jonas Brothers played for nearly three hours. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
While introducing the segment for their 2007 self-titled record, Nick Jonas recalled being kicked off their first label prior to its release.
“That decision did not age well for them,” he joked.
The brothers took several moments throughout the show to thank fans for supporting them after nearly 20 years of making music. Particularly dedicated devotees were showcased on the big screen holding up creative posters or sporting homemade T-shirts. The band even handed off the microphone to a few fans to express what they’re thankful for in celebration of the upcoming holiday.
The 10-person backing band included everything from trumpet, trombone and saxophone, to cello and piano. The band also featured four backing singers to fill out the brothers’ tight vocal harmonies.
Despite flaunting a squeaky clean Disney image during their early years, the trio’s music had a bit of an angsty pop-punk streak to it and leaned heavily on guitar. The material released after the band’s 2019 comeback takes on a summery pop anthem vibe.
Even amid the flashing lights, fireworks and bursts of confetti, the Jonas Brothers’ sibling chemistry and candid lyricism remained the centerpiece of the show. The band occasionally traveled to the B-stage at the back of the floor to showcase more stripped-back and emotional songs.
After an epic, career-spanning journey, the show ended with the Jonas Brothers’ 2021 collaboration with Marshmello, “Leave Before You Love Me,” along with one last showcase of the backing band before everyone took their final bows.
PHOTO GALLERY: Jonas Brothers, Lawrence at Van Andel Arena
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
SET LIST: Jonas Brothers at Van Andel Arena
Setlist.fm
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