Say Anything brings the 20th Anniversary of "Is A Real Boy" to Harrisburg

Harrisburg became a musical confessional as Say Anything rolled into town on their current tour celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their iconic album,  'Is a Real Boy.' From the moment Max Bemis sauntered onto the stage—equal parts ringleader and raconteur—the Harrisburg Midtown Art Center was brimming with a raw, unfiltered energy that threatened to crack the building’s foundations. This wasn’t just a concert; it was a communal exorcism wrapped in clever, sardonic lyrics and the bombast of a band that knows how to leave it all on the stage.

The show opened not with a bang but with a tease. Dim lights swirled over the crowd as the haunting opening chords of “Belt” crept into the room. Bemis strutted onto the stage like a grungy Shakespearean antihero, clutching his mic stand as if it were a scepter. His voice—still jagged and impassioned—tore through the iconic first line: "And, the show begins with a song of rebelion."

Max Bemis commanded the stage with an energy that felt almost paradoxical—half self-aware rock star, half self-deprecating poet. Between songs, he riffed on the absurdity of revisiting Is a Real Boy in 2024, joking about its youthful angst but simultaneously embracing it like an old friend. His voice, raw and imperfect, added an authenticity that perfectly suited the evening’s themes of insecurity, longing, and rebellion.

Highlights included a searing rendition of "Alive with the Glory of Love," which had couples clinging to each other and strangers bonding over the sheer force of nostalgia. The performance was equal parts theatrical and heartfelt—a reminder that Say Anything’s music lives in the messy spaces between irony and earnestness.

Despite his scattershot banter, Bemis’ vulnerability anchored the evening. Songs like “The Futile” and “I Want to Know Your Plans” felt like pages torn from a diary, raw and confessional. Bemis has always walked the line between poet and provocateur, and here he danced on that edge, charming the audience with his uncanny ability to make dysfunction feel universal.

Say Anything shows have always been as much about the crowd as the band. Last night’s audience was no exception, embodying the album’s themes of existential frustration and defiant joy. From the front-row diehards to the casual fans in the back, the energy was infectious. One highlight came during “Woe,” where Bemis handed the mic to a fan who belted the bridge with so much conviction you’d think they wrote it.

The show closed with "Admit It!!!," arguably the most blistering takedown of hipster culture ever written. Bemis delivered the song’s venomous tirade with a grin, and the crowd ate up every word. As the band exited the stage, Bemis lingered for a moment, looking out at the audience as if soaking in the last bits of shared energy. No frills—just a perfect, abrupt ending to a night that didn’t need embellishment.

Say Anything’s performance of Is a Real Boy in Harrisburg was a reminder of why this album remains a touchstone for so many. It’s not just the music, though that alone is impressive—it’s the way Bemis and company capture the messiness of being human. For a few hours, we weren’t just an audience; we were co-conspirators in an emotional heist.

So if this tour is coming to your city, don’t miss it. You’ll leave hoarse, sweaty, and maybe a little more in touch with the awkward, angry teenager you used to be—or still are. And really, isn’t that what rock and roll is all about?