I got a chance to meet and speak with Jack Antonoff a little over a decade ago when he was touring with the previous band, Fun. A couple years later he went on to create his own project Bleachers. Fast forward ten years and four albums and a lot of successful work as a producer/songwriter Antonoff’s “personal project” and career is a living example of what someone’s creative outlet for their own well being can turn into as well as a source of inspiration for many of his fans can aspire towards for themselves.

The band’s most recent and self-titled album was released earlier this year and is the band’s first studio release with their new label, Dirty Hit. It’s the first album where Antonoff felt inspired to experience being in the present and being able to sit in that with all the feels that come along with it. Additionally they wanted to paint a picture with this album of more of the happy moments as well as some of the celebrations in life.

He said, "The most inspiring thing is when you meet someone and you truly just want for them to be so happy. It’s not simple. It’s huge, it’s controversial and it’s wild, but it’s simple in how easy it is."

Saturday evening's performance was very much in the present and it was clearly the band’s intent for their fans to be happy. I would say it was a success; at one point, Antonoff invited Chicago local Jeff Tweedy from Wilco onto stage and they covered Lana Del Rey’s "Margaret." One of my personal favorite moments in the evening is when Antonoff explains the start of the band and its music and the moment he chose that he wanted to get better. It’s super relatable to me and my own life and continues to inspire me creatively with my own work. It’s what I want to hear and is what will keep me listening to Bleachers music.

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Setlist:
I am Right on Time
Modern Girl
Jesus Is Dead
How Dare you Want more
Wake Me
Everybody Lost Somebody
Gooodmorning
I Miss Those Days / Me Before You
Margaret +
Chinatown
Don’t Go Dark
Self Respect
Wild Heart
Rollercoaster
Dream of Mickey Mantle
Ordinary Heaven
Tiny Moves
I wanna Get Better
Don’t Take the Money
Stop Making This Hurt

+ with Jeff Tweedy