The Maine, Nightly, Grayscale & Broadside – 9:30 Club – Washington (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)
- PopEntertainment
- Apr 22
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The Maine, Nightly, Grayscale & Broadside – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC – April 19, 2026
The Maine Transforms 9:30 Club, D.C. into an Electrifying Experience
Washington D.C.’s legendary 9:30 Club was packed wall-to-wall as roughly 1,200 fans filled the sold-out venue for a night headlined by The Maine. With support from Broadside, Grayscale, and Nightly, the evening carried an undeniable sense of anticipation from the moment doors opened. Fans buzzed between the walls, talking about their favorite songs, which merch pieces they should buy, or making new friends to share the night with. By the time the lights dimmed for the first band of the night, the warm feeling in the room felt more and more like a reunion of old friends waiting for their favorite band to take the stage.
Broadside was a fantastic pick to open for the “I Love You…But I Choose The Maine” tour, as the band wasted no time jumping right into the energy of the crowd. Lead singer Ollie Baxxter took to the stage with confidence and nothing except smiles the entire time he sang, giving an opening warm welcome to the show. With a tour debut of songs off of their new album Nowhere, At Last, Broadside grabbed the immediate attention of the sold-out room and had fans, both new and old, dancing along to their seven-song set.
Next on stage, Grayscale quickly got the crowd in the pit going with their upbeat vibe, playing fan favorite songs like “Motown” and “Fever Dream.” Crowd-surfers breezed across the venue as fans danced and sang with each other in the audience, while frontman Collin Walsh matched the crowd's energy with plenty of swagger. The band also did a cover of the classic “Twist and Shout,” adding even more energy in the early crowd.
Under a vast glow of neon purple and blue lights, Nightly made their entrance to the stage. The band seemingly won over the crowd with ease as they began to play, creating a danceable, club inspired tone throughout their allotted 10 song alternative-indie pop inspired set. From front to back, the room was filled with fans embracing the sway of the music. They held the crowd in a trance with a complimentary mix of emotional lyrics and synth-driven sound, proving that they were the perfect pick to play before The Maine took the stage.
The moment The Maine stepped onstage, the crowd erupted. Opening with “Green” – notably the song’s live debut – the band immediately established the tone for the night: emotional, energetic, and deeply connected to the audience in front of them. From the first lyric, fans screamed every word back at the band as though the track had been part of the setlist for years. The immediate response from the venue was incredible, feeling like one of those live music moments that can’t quite be replicated through headphones.
Frontman John O'Callaghan proved exactly why he remains one of the most engaging performers in the scene, as his presence was magnetic throughout the set. Whether he was dancing across the stage, playing guitar, or pausing between songs to share quick remarks with the audience, John was able to keep the crowd involved and engaged.
One of the night’s standout moments came during “Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu,” when O’Callaghan held the microphone out toward the audience and the entire venue took over the chorus. Despite the intensity, that energy never faded. There was an overwhelming sense of community in the room, as fans crowd-surfed, jumped together hand-in-hand with strangers, and opened mosh pits that somehow still felt welcoming rather than chaotic.
Even after the show ended, the connection between the band and their fans remained clear to anyone in the room. Fans lined up across the barricade hoping for photos and conversations, and the band took their time greeting people individually before packing up for the night.
From the first notes of Broadside’s opening set to the final cheers as The Maine exited the stage, the audience never once let the energy dip. More than just a concert, the night felt almost nostalgic in the best way, and it was impossible not to leave with the feeling that something special had just happened. The Maine continues to prove why they are such a beloved live act: they create an atmosphere that feels equally massive and personal at the same time.
Emily Miner
Copyright ©2026 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: April 21, 2026.
Photos by Emily Miner © 2026. All rights reserved.
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