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The Jonas Brothers have been through their share of ebbs and flows since they first appeared on the scene as adolescents in the early 2000s. But standing in front of a packed crowd at Jiffy Lube Live on August 12, the second stop on their just-launched tour, it was clear as they celebrate their 20 year they've mastered the magic that keeps longtime fans coming back, and new ones joining the throng.
Yes, they're in fine vocal form. And yes, they still have plenty of swagger. But what hits the highest note for this particular road show -- which underwent venue downsizing in some cities, plus some reimagining and a renaming of the tour in the weeks leading up to kickoff -- is its overwhelming community vibe, both orchestrated and organic. And that, when done right, is what differentiates an experience from just another concert.
The show opens with a video proclaiming in outsized neon, "Life doesn't fit on a post card. It's messy, it takes detours, but it always brings us home." And with that the "JONAS20: Greetings from Your Hometown Tour" celebrates not only their milestone anniversary but their roots and the family bonds that've delivered them to this point -- which Kevin, Joe and Nick make clear also includes their fans.
Here's what's working on JONAS20:
No Place Like Home: For their opening show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., the Jo Bros brought out surprise hometown guests, including Jesse McCartney, Dean Lewis and the biggest surprise of all, Demi Lovato, for a "Camp Rock" reunion where she and former Disney Channel co-star Joe Jonas performed a medley of songs from the 2008 original movie and its 2010 sequel.
At Jiffy Lube, located in northern Virginia just outside DC, the guys made clear they're going to be spotlighting surprise hometown musicians at every stage they hit between now and mid-November. For this stop, All Time Low, who came up in nearby Baltimore at the same time as the Jo Bros, got their turn in the spotlight.
Better Together: This band of brothers didn't escape its share of bitter feuding through the years, but that all seems to be water under the bridge. The two-and-a-half-hour show afforded ample time for them to showcase their seventh studio album, also named "Greetings From Your Hometown" -- current single, Bee Gees-sampling "No Time To Talk was a highlight -- ample tunes from throughout their career -- "The Year 3000," "S.O.S.," and show closer "Burnin' Up" were big crowd pleasers -- plus songs from Nick and Joe's solo careers. Extending the family even further, JinJoo Lee, guitarist and member of Joe's side project DNCE, appears to be part of the touring band and their rendition of 2015 hit "Cake By The Ocean" drew the loudest applause of the night.
Marshmello Magic: Also in the fam is DJ and producer Marshmello, who stepped up to perform "Slow Motion" with the brothers before taking centerstage for a half-hour set of his own that delivered big on EDM vibe from the tunes to the lasers, heavy pyrotechnics and sparklers in a nod to the OG Jonas fans who are now Millenials and members of Gen Z. Marshmello ended back with the brothers, performing pop ballad "Leave Before You Love Me," which he brought to the band in 2021.
Frankie Goes To Center Stage: After making a brief appearance at the opening stop in New Jersey, singer/songwriter Franklin Jonas, the youngest Jonas brother -- once dubbed the "bonus Jonas" -- performed an opening set at stop two. Franklin shared a handful of soulful tunes including his upcoming single, which drops Sept. 5. Looking out at the full amphitheater, he broke into a big grin and proclaimed, "This is the first time performing my music in front of an audience like this." Here's hoping he gets more time in the spotlight.