Crop tops, vape pens, band merchandise and good music were prevalent at DTE Energy Music Theatre on July 8.  

Panic! At The Disco and Weezer, along with Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, stopped at the Clarkston venue for their summer tour.  

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness took the stage first. The former frontman for Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate sat down at a grand piano playing an eclectic set of songs melding indie rock, electronic and pop music.  

McMahon created an intense energy in this piano-driven set, bouncing up and down on his piano bench to the beat of the song. 


At one point, the artist walked from the stage to the barricade, making his way haphazardly through photographers, security guards and stage equipment to approach the front row of enraptured audience members.  

Following McMahon’s 30-minute set, Panic! At The Disco took the stage. Brendon Urie approached the microphone in a gold blazer with the rest of the band and brass section surrounding the stage.  

Panic! At The Disco performed with flash and talent. Urie’s vocals were highlighted by an unbelievable falsetto and confident swagger.  

His crystal-clear voice added to the energetic set filled with pulsating lights, steam tunnels and a backflip by the singer.  Even in-between songs, the band bopped along to backing music.  

Urie dueled drummer Dan Pawlovich, playing in synchronicity then engaging in an ever-building back-and-forth. The lead singer displayed his talents on piano during the night as well.  

Going from hard rock styling to electronic beats to pop-punk, the band was left sweating by the end of their set, having played songs from their latest album “Victorious” and some past favorites like “Hallelujah” and “Miss Jackson.”  

“This is . . . awesome,” Urie told the crowd.  “This is my dream.”

After Panic!’s set, Weezer began with “California Kids,” adding to the beach theme of their performance.  

Beach balls bounced through the crowd and the screens behind the band flashed through vintage beach scenes, cartoons and syringe emojis.

Lead singer Rivers Cuomo ad-libbed Detroit references during songs backed by strong bass patterns and vocal melodies.  

Harmonies were layered onto the wanting in Cuomo’s voice. Confetti cannons were shot at the beginning of their set and a sense of camaraderie was evident through the band’s performance.  

Cuomo encouraged the crowd by speaking lyrics like, “L.A. girls please act your age . . . sweeten up your lemonade,” before launching into “L.A. Girlz.”

The bands will continue their tour through the summer, hitting Europe in the fall bringing out a little bit of pop-punk in audiences across the world.