The Upside Down Flowers Tour | 2/28/2019
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness brought his Upside Down Flowers tour to the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre this past Thursday. Bringing indie rock acts flor and Grizfolk along with him, this was a show many, including myself, refused to miss.
Grizfolk, an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, was the first of the stacked lineup to take the stage. Kicking off the show with “Into the Barrens”, the group was off to a great start. It didn’t take long for the band to warm up the cold Indianapolis crowd, with many fans swaying and singing along from the beginning of that first song. The energy did not die down throughout the rest of the set, only gaining in momentum.
Next to take the Egyptian Room’s stage was flor, hailing from Oregon but also currently based in Los Angeles. A personal favorite of mine, the band did not disappoint. The crowd’s positive energy was one of the first things singer Zach Grace mentioned on stage. They were not wrong, the energy in the room was fantastic. This was my first show back after a break that lasted quite a few months, and this vibe was what I had missed the most.
While flor’s discography is relatively small, it is incredible. Every song played had me moving and dancing, even as I was working in the photo pit. Each song is electric, and invigorates you. I have been listening to their debut album come out. you’re hiding essentially on repeat since I discovered it, and the live show was even better than the recording. If you haven’t yet seen flor live, you are missing out.
In an almost theatrical manner, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness soon took the stage. Band members entered the stage one by one, inviting the crowd to their pool party. The set dressings were all covered by tarps with sayings like, “No Peeing,” and “Lifeguard Off Duty,” written on them. One by one, those tarps were lifted to reveal exactly that: the set of a pool party. The only thing missing was namesake Andrew McMahon, formerly of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin.
We began to hear his voice and a piano, seemingly coming from nowhere. A screen is moved to reveal McMahon playing the piano and singing from under a piece of the stage. Stagehands help roll McMahon front and center, where he stays for most of the show. The theatrics were something that you don’t see often, and are something that I would love to see more of. The band played songs from their own discography, as well as a few Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate fan favorites. The energy in the room was wonderful, something that I think everyone needs to feel for themselves.