AJR delivers effervescent ‘Bang!’ of a show, draws third biggest crowd in NYS Fair history (review) - syracuse.com

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New York-based indie pop trio AJR brought maniacal glee and a magnetic stage presence to their 70-minute show at the New York State Fair’s Chevy Park on Friday night.

AJR (which stands for Adam, Jack and Ryan, the Met brothers’ first initials) had previously performed in Syracuse at 93Q Summer Jam in 2017 and the 95X Big-X-Cuse concert festival in 2018.

Still, the trio drew a whopping 36,397 people at Friday night’s show, making it the third highest-attended concert in state fair history behind only A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (40,610) in 2018 and the Steve Miller Band (36,900) in 2015.

The group is best known for pop hits “Weak,” “Burn the House Down,” “100 Bad Days” and the inescapable ear worm “Bang!” (Even if you think you don’t know it, you do.) Their eclectic lyricism and skittering pace kept the show lively, but no part of the set felt rushed.

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The youngest Met brother, Jack, played the zany frontman. His effervescent pop voice hit all the right notes, but his spinning-top dance moves and cheerful crowd interaction elevated the show from good to great.

“It was such a bummer that we missed this for two years [due to Covid-19] so every moment onstage is such a gift,” Jack told the crowd, and he seemed to genuinely mean it. He relished the banter with his brothers onstage and pulled no punches teasing the front-row fans who brought multiple AJR signs.

Ryan Met, a quiet powerhouse as the band’s keys player (and occasional ukulele crooner), stole the show by sharing a detailed anatomy of their Billboard Music Award-winning song “Bang!” He was as bankable a showman as his younger brother, and really kicked his shoes off in the final moments of “Weak.”

Bassist Adam Met spoke the least, but made one of the best points during the show, describing their song “Karma” as “a happy panic attack.” Of all their songs, Karma’s lyrics hit different amid the pandemic, especially as Delta variant cases skyrocket in Onondaga County even after months of masking and vaccines.

“Still, I’m lonely and stressed out / I’ve been so good / I’ve been so good this year

But it’s still getting harder / I’ve been so good / Where the hell is the karma?”

Thousands of people filled Chevy Park to see AJR perform at the NYS Fair on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021.

Arnetta Johnson, the “trumpet queen of New Jersey,” delivered rousing wails on her horn throughout the night, but she shined especially on the popping staccato of “100 Bad Days.”

Only on “Netflix Trip” did she falter, with a weak warble on that signature high note for “The Office” theme song. But she quickly recovered once the percussion backed her up.

Even AJR’s indie cover of “All Star” sounded far more energetic than when Smash Mouth played it at the New York State Fair back in 2014. Plenty of parents brought young children to the show, who danced in circles on the hills behind the sound board. Even NYS Fair Director Troy Waffner hung out at the Chevy Park bar with friends and colleagues during the show.

The show was polished, the sound was crisp and the night hit ideal concert temperatures (62 degrees). Any concertgoers who might’ve felt frustrated by the blocked parking lots on Friday night had to leave AJR’s show feeling “Way Less Sad.”

AJR set list

Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at the NYS Fair, Syracuse, N.Y.

Bummerland

3 O’Clock Things

Sober Up

Way Less Sad

Ordinaryish People

Netflix Trip

”The Office” theme song

The Entertainment’s Here

All Star (Smash Mouth cover)

100 Bad Days