Bleachers at the Fonda Theatre shot by Danielle Gornbein

The Fonda Theatre had a packed house this past Tuesday evening for the amazingly energetic, Bleachers! The project of New Jersey-native Jack Antonoff began around early 2014 and has just recently taken off upon the summer release of his sophomore record Gone Now. The tone of this band has an instantaneous force that almost picks you up, shakes you, and demands your attention. For me they just exude a feeling of the very best nostalgia. The project is a collective of musicians, including Antonoff on guitar, accompanied by friends on two drum kits, keys, and saxophone which only create the biggest sound you could possibly imagine. Tuesday evening was the sole Los Angeles stop on the current tour, supporting the record and if you were there you were very lucky indeed. Fans were in a state of pure ecstasy watching Bleachers perform their shout-along songs with full force. The live show is without a doubt a total performance that brings Antonoff’s wacky fantasies to life. With his wild facial expressions and big goofy smile, he attracts only the best of his listeners. Covering all of the hits including, “I Wanna Get Better”, and “Everybody Lost Somebody” Antonoff crushed it! We even got an incredible stripped down performance of the ballad “Carry On” by Antonoff’s former association FUN.

The Fonda is definitely a favorite venue in Los Angeles, and I don’t think it could’ve been any more perfect for these guys to come showcase their work. It also came to no surprise with the many collaborations that singer, Carly Rae Jepsen was spotted amongst the crowd. Would’ve been extra special if we had some of the other collaborative artists make guest appearances — such as Antonoff’s BFF, Lorde.

Bleachers closed their set with the money-making hit and single off the record, “Don’t Take The Money”. If you weren’t there, be sure to catch them Friday in Santa Ana at The Observatory, where you’ll most likely be encouraged to get on each other’s shoulders and clap along!

Words & Photography: Danielle Gornbein