Chicago – And just like that, the JR JR tour is gone. See what I did there? JR JR (formerly Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.) played their final show of the JR JR American Fall Tour, in support of the Detroit duo’s third album JR JR. Fans from all over the Midwest, but especially Michigan, filled the ground floor of the Metro for lots of grooving and plenty of dancing. More importantly, the indie pop duo filled a slightly somber Saturday night with a bit of magic, after a saddening Thursday and Friday filled with terrorist attacks in Beirut, Baghdad, and Paris.
I last saw JR JR on St. Patrick’s Day weekend of last year. I try to see these guys whenever they roll into Chicago, but as a long time fan, my concern is always will Danny Zott and Josh Epstein surpass their last performance? Sure enough, they always pull it off. Each tour adds a little something to their dance moves, stage presence, and lighting. This tour new gigantic JR JR lights replaced the old DIY originals, making them and that inflatable ball a thing of the past. New sound + new name = new lights. They kept many of the animations, but instead of projections, they found new life in the digitally controlled JR JR lights. During “War Zone,” animations of tanks and soldiers flashed behind the band, via the video programmed lights. The JR JR bubble machine kept its place, adding bubbles that glowed under dark lights and floated around the stage later in the set.
This tour, Josh and Danny seemed more laid back. Just like the last time they played the Metro, JR JR’s added tour mates freed Josh and Danny up, but this time even more than before. They danced around stage and jumped into the audience, where they danced with and high-fived fans, making for the most interactive JR JR show to date. Josh stood up tall on speakers, where he danced, sang, and played the sax. Danny even got to serenade fans, just like he did back in high school. (Check out our interview with Danny to read more about this!) Given this was the last show of a long tour, I have to give props to the whole band for being engaged and energetic. Anyone in the music industry knows that by the last week or two of a tour, everyone involved is burnt out and ready to call it a day, but JR JR didn’t show this in the slightest. Perhaps they were all just happy it was finally over, or they were tired to the point of being slap-happy? I’d like to think they’re just professional like that, but whatever the case, Josh and Danny, along with their band mates Mike Higgins and Bryan Pope, had fun and in turn the audience had fun.
JR JR played most of the songs off their latest release JR JR, including “As Time Goes,” “Gone,” and “James Dean.” The surprise of the night came from “Hypothetical.” The song is one of the best tracks off JR JR, and it possessed even more soul and funk when performed live. The guys also played my new favorite “Break My Fall.” Josh unleashed what seemed like every ounce of his soul here, practically screaming the emotional lyrics. JR JR also tossed in a cover of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up.” Seeing as they recently celebrated their five year anniversary as a band, they played plenty of older tunes which helped make them beloved by so many fans. Most of the oldies were slightly revamped to have more of an R&B, jazzy feel, to match their newer tunes. They played the first song they ever wrote together, “Simple Girl,” and “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dance floor).” They also played their beloved take on Gil Scott Heron’s “We Almost Lost Detroit.” Fans especially went wild for this one.
Things got really heartwarming when Josh and Danny dedicated the last song – well, the last song before the encore – to Danny’s brother. It was “For My Brother,” the song Danny wrote for his brother Jon Zott. Josh told the crowd how stopping in Chicago is difficult for Jon because before becoming JR JR’s sound engineer, he was on scholarship at DePaul University when one winter night a cab hit a patch of ice and drove into him, shattering a kneecap and leaving him unable to play basketball, ultimately resulting in the loss his scholarship. Josh endearingly said, ”We love you bud.” Old home videos played on the JR JR lights, while the guys sang in harmony. The band left the stage after “For My Brother.” They eventually returned donning very old sport jackets, that played off their Horse Power EP art work, with neon patchwork and a JR on the back, all which glowed under the dark lights illuminating the stage.
JR JR ended the show with an oldie and one of my favorites, “Nothing But Our Love,” and while I clapped and danced and watched everyone else doing the same, I felt so incredibly happy. As someone who works within the music industry, the attack on the Paris concert hall Le Bataclan hit especially close to home. I know a few music journalists who made the decision to stay away from shows on both Friday and Saturday. People within the industry, from writers, photographers, musicians, roadies, and tech guys, but especially merch dudes, were shaken with the death of merchandise manager Nick Alexander at the Eagles of Death Metal show. (A GoFundMe has been set up in support of Nick Alexander’s family.) I was shaken, too. But in that moment, as fans in the Metro danced and wore smiles from ear to ear, among a sea of bubbles glowing under black lights, everything seemed magical. Life was good. I was reminded of what is so key to surviving and getting through what’s been happening in the world: happiness. Don’t let terrorists, whether they be homegrown in the form of the KKK tossing bricks in Missouri or ISIS bombing mosques and concert halls, instill fear in your hearts. Please don’t stop living your life to the fullest and more importantly, on your terms, and with so much love. To everyone in the music industry and to music fans around the world, don’t ever stop enjoying live music, and when you find yourself feeling frightened, just sing along with JR JR, “I’m not scared, wait, I’m not scared.”
JR JR can be purchased on iTunes. Keep up with JR JR on Facebook and Twitter for news of upcoming performances.
Photo of JR JR by Sarah Hess for BestNewBands.com
Sarah Hess
After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.
You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
Latest posts by Sarah Hess (see all)
- The Wild Feathers Check One Off The Bucket List - July 31, 2017
- RY X Captivates Chicago - October 24, 2016
- Four New Bands at Day Three of Riot Fest - September 20, 2016
