Maroon 5 - 3/21/15

I am probably going to get some eye rolls, boos and complaints about this blog but here goes anyway.  First let me say that I really love Maroon 5’s music and I love watching Adam Levine on The Voice.  Renee found out Maroon 5 was going to be in Kansas City at the Sprint Center so we decided to have a couple’s weekend and go see the concert with our hubbies.

2 years ago, almost exactly to the day, we saw Maroon 5 at BOK Center in Tulsa - again with our hubbies.  Let’s just say that dinner was fantastic and so was the wine.  The wine was so fantastic that I really don’t remember most of the concert from that night.  I do remember that we had seats off to the side of the stage and there were giant screens behind the band that we missed a lot of because of where we sat.  So we needed a do over and the closest they were coming was KC.  Let’s go!

My kids weren't very happy with me that I was going to see Maroon 5 without them but it was nice to have an adult weekend away.  We went to dinner at a nice seafood restaurant just down the street from the Sprint Center called Bristol.  This time we took it easy on the wine.

The first opening act was Rozzi Crane.  We looked her up and apparently she is the first artist signed to Adam Levine’s label.  That girl had some pipes!  It seemed extremely effortless for her to hit the big notes.  However, her movements were quite odd.  I would say she was a little like Lourde at times but then she would break out in these little dances almost like Debbie Gibson.  She was just strange to watch.  She did a cover of Heart’s “Barracuda” and killed it!  I have mixed feelings about her.  But I will give her one thing – the girl can sing!

The next opener was the reggae band Magic!  They sing the song “Rude.”  I loved them.  They had so much energy and were fun to watch.  I am totally going to buy their album to listen to on days I just want to sit back and chill.  Renee loved their style – matching suits with no socks and loafers.  They did a cover of The Police’s “Message in a Bottle” and I was belting it out!  Side note: I absolutely love The Police and Sting is a bucket list concert for me!

On to Maroon 5.  OK, so here’s where I will get the eye rolls.  It was good.  Yes, I said just “good”.  The band played well and Adam sang well.  They played all the radio songs.  There wasn't a single song you didn't know, which always makes for a fun time.  But there just wasn't that extra something that makes you go “Man, that was great!” 

Before you boycott me, let me explain.  If you read my blog “What makes a great concert” you will know that, for me, the biggest thing that makes a great concert is connection of the band to the fans.  That was missing from Maroon 5.  I am very sad to say this because I am a big fan of theirs.   

This was more of just a performance rather than an experience.  I prefer to feel like I got something out of the concert that I wouldn't have gotten just watching them perform on TV.  I’m not saying they need to do a lot of talking, but as a fan, we want the artist to make us feel like they care you are there.  That comes in the form of waving to people, making eye contact with the people on the front row, talking to us, etc.  I will say that Adam paid attention to the people on the side and back seats several times, which was great, and he did acknowledge early on that it’s the fans that keep them able to do what they do.  But in general, there was a disconnect between the fans and the band.

The first 25 minutes of the show they never stopped in between songs.  They just blended them all together.  Now, you would think that’s a great thing.  Cram in all the songs you can.  We came to hear them sing, right?  Well, yes and no.  Here’s where I think the disconnect started.  We, as fans, were never given the chance to really cheer for them because they never stopped the music.   It’s honestly better, in my opinion, for the performer to be a little vain and stand there and let us cheer.  It makes us connect with them better.  When the next song starts immediately, that connection part is missing and it becomes just them up there singing.

There also weren't those big screens behind the band they had at the last tour.  They had the normal 2 side screens for the higher seats but nothing on the stage.  Instead they had a fancy light set up.  Sorry, I prefer screens.  I want to feel like I am up close and personal with the band no matter where I’m sitting.

  

We didn't have great seats but they were decent.  Lower level about 3/4 of the way back.  There was a runway that came out to make a V at the end and it looked like a big arrow.  The tip of the arrow was right in front of us.  When we got there, we saw the runway and were pretty excited.  Adam Levine should be coming down our way and we should feel close!  Well, not exactly.  Through the entire concert he would walk down the runway about 2/3 and then turn around and go back.  He didn't even come to the V part until the encore.  That was very disappointing.  Why make a runway that long if you aren't going to use it? 

And on the encore note, they played for exactly one hour and left.  They came back for the encore and did 4 songs.  I really feel like a band that big can play for longer than 1.5 hours.  It just seemed so short.

So, overall the concert was good.  Am I still a fan?  Absolutely!  Would I go see them again?  If I won tickets.  :-)