Bleachers 'Take The Sadness Out of Saturday Night' on Final U.S. Tour Date of 2021 Tour

November 8, 2021

After kicking off their tour with their 'Shadow of the City' festival on September 11, Bleachers concluded the U.S. leg of their tour with a sold out show at XL Live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 6 produced by Harrisburg University Presents.

Jack Antonoff has become an icon of creativity in the music scene over the past decade for his songwriting and producing work for artists including Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey & countless others. However, during this time Antonoff has maintained a very special project of his own in the form of Bleachers. His band burst onto the alternative charts in 2014 with their debut single "I Wanna Get Better" and since then hasn't slowed down with touring or new music. While Antonoff is no stranger to touring from his years with FUN, Bleachers shows are uniquely different as they are widely regarded as some of the best live experiences in the industry. Bleachers are fresh off the release of their third album 'Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night' and this tour was the first chance the band had to get in front of crowds for a long time due to the pandemic altering plans for 2020.


The sold out crowd in XL Live made possible by Harrisburg University Presents on Saturday night was a physical manifestation of the band's musical diversity as there was only one single type of person in the crowd - Bleachers fans. A line for the merch table snaked itself around the venue from the moment doors opened, by the end of the night very little merchandise would remain as nearly the entire crowd could be seen wearing Bleachers merch from all era of the band. The band's multiple truck stage set up barely fit into the intimate venue as it spilled off the sides and the drum risers nearly touched the ceiling. Anticipation swept through the crowd as fans began sharing stories from previous Bleachers experiences on this tour, previous and even a lucky few chatted about their MTV Unplugged filming during the 'Gone Now' tour cycle at the Stone Pony.

Shortly after 9:30PM the moment had arrived as sage was burnt on the stage prior to the lights going dim across the venue before slowly flickering back on as Jack Antonoff and Bleachers appeared on the stage for a dimly lit and stunning version of "91" to start the evening. Following the slower paced start to the show, the stage burst to life following the song as Antonoff sprinted to his the front of the stage with microphone in hand to get the crowd moving early with the high energy "Let's Get Married." Evan Smith and Mikey Hart flanked the sides of the small stage but their locations didn't slow Antonoff down as he ran between, through and even over them at times when he wasn't at his microphone stand with his guitar.


The comparisons that can be made from the band's current touring production to something of the golden age of touring in the 80's and 90's are seemingly endless. At first glance the entire set up screams Springsteen with Antonoff clad in his vintage leather jacket and boots at the front of it all but a closer look at touring history shows how much Bleachers are rooted in a gone by era of music that they have re-invented for a new generation. Whether you look at classic sources like Depeche Mode or Duran Duran or contemporary counter parts like Robyn and Grimes - Bleachers' music and live performances bleed with artistic passion (and of course the stories of Antonoff and his New Jersey influences.)

Bleachers' lengthy set at XL Live produced by Harrisburg University Presents gave the band a chance to spotlight a wide range of material from their catalog dating all the way back to their debut album 'Strange Desire.' Fans were responsive to the surprise addition of "Alfie's Song," a single the band recorded for Love, Simon, early in the set. Fans of the band would be hard pressed to ask for a better setlist as Antonoff and the band took the sold out crowd on a musical journey for almost 2 hours. The venue grew hot, the windows were fogged and everyone was sweating by half a dozen songs in - Antonoff went as far as lovingly calling the crowd "feral" to a roar of approval.


The blessing and curse of a masterwork performance such as the one Bleachers delivered at XL Live and produced by Harrisburg University Presents is that there become too many special moments to highlight. Whether it was the impromptu acoustic FUN sing-a-long in the middle of the set, the surprise fan requested appearance of "Day Man" from Always Sunny, the insanity of the crowd during "Rollercoaster" or the ripping saxophone of "Everybody Lost Somebody" - there was a moment that will last a lifetime for everyone in their memory from the performance. 

There is no denying Jack Antonoff is a generational talent when it comes to musicianship - his legacy will far outlast many of his peers and Bleachers is a large part of his musical story. His passion for the project is infectious and the fans have developed the same love for his music as he shares while performing it. XL Live and Harrisburg University Presents have hosted dozens of alternative concerts since their opening in 2019, they all pair in comparison to the crowd, show and experience that Bleachers brought to the intimate venue.


It's hard to guess where Bleachers will go from here - whether it is another tour, album or something unexpected there is no denying that their fans will be there following them to the edge of the earth. After over a year of struggle, sadness and stress for so many people Antonoff delivered on his promise and took the "sadness out of Saturday night" in Harrisburg and added another chapter to his living legacy of artistry in doing so.

Article Written By:

Matt Christine

Trivium and Jinjer bring the 'Ascend Above The Ashes Tour' to Lancaster

By Matt Christine • November 14, 2025
Trivium is back on the road in 2025 — and this time, they’ve brought Jinjer along for a blistering run across the U.S. on the “Ascend Above The Ashes Tour.” Over the last four years, the rock and metal world has seen a wild expansion of dream-team co-headlining and powerful support on tours, the kind fans never thought they’d see outside of wish lists. Rising metal powerhouse Jinjer has been in the international spotlight ever since they were forced to exit Slipknot’s 2022 tour to return home and support Ukraine’s war efforts. In the years since, they’ve become global ambassadors for both their country and the metal community. And even as the supporting act on this tour, the band was greeted by a massive turnout and a stage setup that matched their well-earned status in the scene. Their addition on this tour with Trivium was a match made in heaven (or hell) and a perfect compliment sonically. The band's 9 song setlist got the mosh pit moving and crowd surfers flowing ahead of the main event that evening. It may have been a Wednesday night , but you wouldn’t have known it based on the crowd’s energy leading up to Trivium’s 9:50 p.m. arrival. Pennsylvania showed once again why it has a reputation as one of the weirdest and yet strongest markets in the country for rock and metal. When the band’s massive stage slowly illuminated to reveal a dramatic backdrop, Trivium launched into their set with explosive force as strobes burst to blinding effects all around them. Trivium's 14 song set was a blistering pace of their greatest hits and new material that left little time for the band to chat with the crowd as they moved quickly from song to song. Frontman Matt Heafy nearly blended into the elaborate backdrop thanks to a jacket patterned almost identically, but he was impossible to miss as he tore across the stage from mic to mic, shredding through one technical assault after another. Much like Jinjer’s opening performance, Trivium delivered a razor-sharp, 80-minute set that pulled from across their expansive catalog. From the first crushing riff to the final crack of the snare, they gave Lancaster everything they had — and the packed pit gave it right back. Opening nights can often feel unpredictable, but Lancaster showed up ready, proving once again that this city doesn’t just attend shows — it sets the bar. If the rest of the “Ascend Above Ashes Tour” follows this lead, Trivium and Jinjer are in for one unforgettable run.

Taylor Acorn returns home to Pennsylvania at the Archer Music Hall

By Matt Christine • November 12, 2025
Taylor Acorn’s return to Pennsylvania to the Arrow at the Archer Music Hall in Allentown was a homecoming a long time coming after a massive year of touring and festival appearances. Just a few weeks after performing at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas - and fresh off wrapping The Summer School Tour - Taylor Acorn returned to Pennsylvania with clear momentum behind her. Touring in support of her newly released LP, she arrived at The Arrow at the Archer in Allentown with a setlist shaped around this new chapter of her sound. The fresh material wasn’t just sprinkled into the night; it was the thread that held the entire show together. And while Acorn hasn’t forgotten her roots in the pop-punk world, it’s obvious that these newer songs give her a wider lane to move in and let her shine bright onstage. The Arrow itself proved to be an ideal setting. The room was full but comfortable, with that sweet spot where you can feel the crowd’s energy without fighting for space. Warm lighting and a clear sightline from almost anywhere in the venue helped create a sense of connection the moment Acorn stepped out. It didn’t take long for the entire place to settle into a rhythm—heads nodding, hands in the air, and plenty of voices shouting back the lines they knew. Between songs, Acorn kept the energy light and the banter genuine. She shared quick stories, poked fun at herself, and made it clear she appreciated being back in her home state. Nothing dragged, nothing felt overly rehearsed—it all stayed grounded in the good-natured vibe that filled the room. By the end of the night, The Arrow at the Archer felt less like a tour stop and more like a celebration of where Acorn is right now: an artist still rooted in the scene that raised her, but growing fast and sounding sharper than ever. The crowd felt it, the room carried it, and Acorn made sure everyone left buzzing. A strong show, a great space, and the kind of night that makes you want to catch her again before the tour moves on.

Kaleo bring the 'Mixed Emotions Tour' to from Iceland to Allentown

By Matt Christine • September 19, 2025
On September 16, 2025, Icelandic rockers KALEO brought their Mixed Emotions Tour to Allentown’s Archer Music Hall, with Quarters of Change and Júníus Meyvant on the bill.