AJR’s “Somewhere In The Sky” Tour Lands In Merriweather

AJR’s “Somewhere In The Sky” Tour Lands At Merriweather

August 10, 2025 - Marriweather, Maryland

Photographed and Written by Caden Forrester @flicksby4ster

Benjamin Steer: U.S. Debut

The high-pressure role of opening the evening landed on Benjamin Steer. For Benjamin Steer, this wasn’t just another performance; it was his first show in the U.S., and what a grand entrance to the nation, opening at Merriweather in front of around 20,000 attendees. Although opening with some sound difficulties on the part of the venue, the nerves didn’t get to Benjamin. Playing a short acoustic set, his indie-folk sound filled the venue. The crowd gave him a very loud, warm, American welcome.

Valley: Infectious Energy

Next up was Valley, who completely shifted the atmosphere. Their set was a complete burst of energy and talent. With music full of catchy hooks and on-stage chemistry, it got the audience moving. id-set, Valley surprised everyone with a throwback cover of MGMT’s 2007 hit “Kids,” putting their own indie-pop spin on the classic synth riff and chorus. This unexpected cover proved to be a standout moment. The familiar opening notes drew a cheer of recognition, and soon the entire amphitheater was singing at the top of their lungs. Even the band on social media, Valley, jokingly posted, “gonna tell my kids this was MGMT.” Valley felt like a band that knew its identity and wanted to share it. Getting the audience to sing along, even when unfamiliar with the music, showed their powerful skill at connecting with an audience.

Cavetown: Changing it up

Standing under soft pastel lighting, Cavetown strummed his guitar and bantered between songs, creating the vibe of a cozy gig transported to Merriweather’s stage. His setlist spanned loved tracks like “Home,” a ukulele-laced ballad about longing and comfort, and indie tunes like “frog” and “Boys Will Be Bugs.” If you had listened to Cavetown in the early 2020s but have slowly waned away, I encourage you to hop back on that train. Cavetown played many of their classic hit songs, but brought a whole different sound to them. It felt like a complete shift from the studio recordings, which bring a more indie vibe. When Robbie played with his band, they brought a whole new rock perspective to his music. Totally reviving the artist in my heart.

Chelsea Cutler: Emotive Pop

Rounding out the opening acts was Chelsea Cutler, who served as the final opener before AJR. By the time Cutler took the stage, the pavilion was packed and the crowd was already cheering for AJR. Chelsea Cutler proved to the crowd that she was worth their time. She brought truly vulnerable songs to the stage along with catchy electro pop. Cutler played some of her most popular hits, such as “This is how you fall in love,” originally released with Jeremy Zucker; she sang both parts herself and prompted the crowd to turn on their flashlights. Wrapping up with a cover of Mr. Brightside, the crowd became almost the loudest of the night. She’s engaging and feeds off the fan energy; a smile never left her face as she was mixing music live on stage.

AJR

By nightfall, the venue was completely packed. As soon as AJR appeared, the crowd erupted in a roar. Opening with “Way Less Sad,” the audience leaped to their feet if they weren’t up already in anticipation. AJR is infamous for putting on more than a concert; it is truly an immersive experience. Fans of all ages, from teenagers to parents accompanying kids, danced and sang in unison, united by AJR.

Throughout the 90-minute performance, the crowd never lost its energy. Jack, more impressively, never lost his energy bouncing and running all over the stage. Even interacting with the graphics in “Yes I’m A Mess.” Ryan, despite being more relaxed, was having just as good a time at his piano. No matter how the bandmates and crowd expressed it, everyone was connecting over their love of the music. Thousands of fans clapped in unison during “The Good Part,” echoing into the next neighborhood over. Merriweather felt less like a concert venue and more like one giant backyard party with a few thousand close friends.

Mid-show, the Met brothers added a dose of show and tell to the production. They paused to demonstrate how they create their unique sounds. Jack and Ryan humorously explained that the intro of “100 Bad Days” was born from a pants zipper and Netflix’s “ta-dum” tone. They played both these sounds over the speakers and showed how they layer the effects into the song’s beat. AJR, ever the interactive band, even found their way into the crowd. They got comfortable in an empty row of seats near the lawn and performed two songs alongside their fans. It was a unique, magical moment that made the largest venue in the state feel a little smaller.

The Grand Finale

The Golden Ram Marching Band from Randallstown High School joined AJR on stage for an encore of “Weak.” I would argue that the night reached its peak during he encore, when AJR delivered a final surprise that left the crowd in awe. As the band returned for their last song, a flash of light revealed dozens of new musicians marching out alongside Jack in a ringleader costume. Over 60 members of Randallstown High School’s Marching Band emerged in full uniform and fanned out across the stage with color guard dancers parading through the aisles. The students played with a contagious enthusiasm, and AJr bounced along beside them, thrilled by the huge sound behind their song.

It was truly a show-stopping finale that felt unexpected, yet in character for AJR. The last notes rang out and confetti blasted somewhere in the sky. AJR had delivered on every promise of a spectacular show. From the openers to the final crescendo, no one needed to “skip to the good part,” AJR made sure every part WAS the good part.