Captivating audiences

Electrifying every stage, Augustana and The Maine are traveling together for the first time for a nationwide, co-headling tour.

On June 3, fans of all ages crammed into the small Clutch Cargos venue in            Pontiac to witness these bands up-close and personal.

Coming all the way from Tempe, Ariz. The Maine signed to their first label with Fearless Records in December 2007, then to Warner Bros. in 2009 and have been working diligently to get their name out in the mainstream.

Playing a variety of songs from both albums, The Maine kept the show upbeat and fun while also taking time to interact with the crowd.

While performing one of their most popular songs, “Girls Do What They Want,” singer John O’Callaghan passed his microphone to a front row fan who graciously finished the song and was then given a round of applause.

Along with showing a great appreciation for their fan base, The Maine held true to their modern sound and never strayed far from the albums originality during their performance.

With multiple hit EPs, such as, “The Way We Talk” and “Stay Up, Get Down,” The Maine’s upbeat pop-rock sound, and distinct vocals have grabbed a wide range of fans from ages 13-30.

The Maine’s two full-length albums, “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop”, released in 2008 and the most recent, “Black and White” in 2010 gave The Maine a great foundation for the bands success.

Following The Maine’s performance on Friday, Augustana kicked off their soulful performance with “Sweet and Low,” one of the most popular songs on their second album, “Can’t Love Can’t Hurt”.

It wasn’t long before the crowd was fired up for a night full of strong, passionate vocals, note-crushing guitar solos and beautiful piano ballads.

Augustana came a long way from their slow start at Greenville College in Illinois, where lead singer Dan Layus and former band mate Josiah Rosen began their journey to create the band many know and love.

Even having only four albums under their belt, Augustana has already grabbed the attention of many with albums such as  “All The Stars and Boulevards” and their recently released self-titled album.

Layus conducted a heart-felt show performing a song written for his daughter, titled “Meet You There” and one of their biggest hits “Boston,” which sent the audience into dead silence.

Augustana is one of the few bands that can make fans feel the music and connect with the artists in a way that keeps them coming back for more.

While most of Augustana’s songs are acoustically driven and are played in a soft, folk-rock manner, the impact they have on their fans is anything but soft.

To finish off the night, Augustana, The Maine and opening act Austin Gibbs crowded the stage to perform a surprise cover of Tom Petty’s “Walls,” merging their talents together to create an unforgettable ending to the show.