Bleachers made their long awaited return to Cincinnati after 11 years since playing the Bunbury Music Fest in 2015. Jack Antonoff’s project has always been built around the idea that big feelings deserve big sounds, and in Cincinnati, those feelings filled the room instantly even before Bleachers hit the stage.
Bleachers gave fans many different activations including the opportunity before the show to take time to take photos in a ‘Bleachers Forever’ Photobooth, which was a popular spot among fans. They also gave concert-goers the chance to participate in their local government by writing and sending a postcard to senators or scanning a QR code for information on calling local representatives. This all comes in collaboration with The Ally Coalition, a nonprofit organization co founded by Antonoff and fashion designer Rachel Antonoff to support LGBTQ+ youth. They also collaborated with Headcount to giving fans the opportunity to check their voter registration.
Before Bleachers took the stage, This Is Lorelei gave the Cincinnati crowd a taste of the strange, intimate world of Nate Amos. His set carried catchy melodies with offbeat production and vulnerable songwriting. Amos established his own atmosphere, moving between moments of quiet reflection and bursts of energy that fits perfectly with the nostalgia Bleachers are known for with hits like “I Will Eat My Heart in the Morning Light,” “The Kid With the Crown, and “Oh No Now My.”
Their performance gave fans a chance to experience their music live while introducing new listeners to their unique style. The crowd quickly settled into the set, with the energy building song by song as they prepared for Bleachers to take the stage.
Not too long after, “My Way” by Frank Sinatra started to play, as it built suspension for the fans waiting for Bleachers to finally hit the stage and kick off the show with “Sideways.” Antonoff proved to be an energetic and charismatic frontman, rarely allowing the momentum to settle. Their signature mix of indie-rock, big anthems and infectious energy made it impossible not to get caught up in the excitement.The performance leaned heavily into the band’s strengths, ringing guitars, driving drums, bright synths and choruses from hits like “Modern Girl,” “Dirty Wedding Dress” and “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call.”
Bleachers aren’t interested in emotional restraint. Their songs embrace the awkwardness of memory, the messiness of relationships and the desire to find something meaningful in ordinary life.
By the end of the night, the distinction between performer and audience seemed increasingly unimportant. The crowd wasn’t simply watching Bleachers perform songs, they were participating in them. From the very first song, the crowd was on their feet, singing along to fan favorites and soaking in every moment. Even from the start of the show, the crowd was filled with nostalgia and excitement thinking about the last time Bleachers stepped in Cincinnati and carried that through the entire show.
Bleachers may specialize in nostalgia, but their Cincinnati performance truly proved why Bleachers are forever.
Get Tickets to see Bleachers here.
Keep up with Bleachers:
Instagram / TikTok / X / Youtube / Website / Spotify / Apple Music
