22 reasons you should see OneRepublic live:
1. The energy they bring to the stage is unlike any other act I’ve ever seen. While other artists often start out strong then wind down, OneRepublic keeps it up and it’s amazing from beginning to end. They carry the energy they feel from exploring the area onto the stage.
2. They are interested in finding out more about the city they’re in. They love to ask questions to the crowd and Ryan is a huge foodie and often talks about restaurants on stage. They also enjoy asking questions to clarify things they are uncertain of, such as the pronunciation of Macedonia.
3. Crowd interaction. These are only the things I’ve seen on video or live, I’m sure this isn’t all: bringing fans onto stage for livestreams, giving fans hugs, shouting out signs, answering “I love you” with “I love you, too,” talking about pop culture, posing for selfies…
4. Ryan is incredibly honest and funny. He mocks other celebrities, calls things “the shiznit,” keeps jokes running throughout the show, uses sarcasm, makes fun of how he writes every song on the radio, etc. At one of my concerts, the joke was about how we were all going to Nordstrom after the show and buy matching pantsuits.
5. This makes the other members of the band smile and it’s really cute.
6. It’s not all about Ryan. Brent is heavily featured on the cello, Zach has a beautiful flamenco solo, Drew plays about four instruments and Eddie has a drum solo either before "Love Runs Out” or during “If I Lose Myself.”
7. Drew. I’ve seen him whispering to Brent and Eddie, shamelessly tying his shoes, peeking out from backstage, smiling adorably, having to switch between instruments, huge fan appreciation, tapping Eddie’s drums, coordinating his sick moves with Brent, and it seems likes he’s having so much fun.
8. Eddie just looks so happy to be drumming, he gets so into it. During songs such as "Counting Stars” and “I Lived” he is smiling the entire time. He even plays on a different drum set during “Good Life.”
9. Ryan is so high on caffeine, he just jumps around stage. During a show in Grand Rapids he made it all the way from the stage, through two aisles, and has able to high five people on the 200 level. He also enjoys climbing up by Brian and Eddie and singing on top of the piano. His instrumental talent really shines through on songs such as "Stop and Stare” and “Apologize.”
10. Zach being talented and cute as heck. At the Lone Tree concert, Ryan was telling the story about how they met, and since high school Zach’s been able to play flamenco music. This was great at parties and attracted a lot of girls… ;)
11. Brent being musical. From just looking at him, he is a true musician. I love watching him change from bass guitar to cello, and I love how they give him lots of solo opportunities. He is excellent at bringing out these parts you don’t really hear in "Apologize” or “What You Wanted” studio versions. He is also great at harmonizing!
12. Questions you’ve always wondered about are answered. How Ryan and Zach formed the band, Ryan’s dating experiences, favorite food, brands, opinions on other celebrities, the concerts tell all. Fun fact: Ryan was the new kid senior year of high school and lots of girls thought he was really hot!
13. They play their big hits from older albums, current singles and non-singles from the latest album. I’ve seen other bands live and often they only play their radio hits, but OneRepublic has a really nice balance.
14. Variety. They start the show typically with an explosive mix of “Don’t Look Down” and the very differing song of “Light It Up” and weave through the concert with major instrumental changes and end with a party in their EDM attempt “If I Lose Myself.” I promise: you won’t be bored by them.
15. Their influences shine through heavily but they are themselves. I see performance qualities similar to U2 or even Coldplay, but they stay true to the musicians they are. It is a very unique show that many people will never forget, and I’ve met so many people who say it’s the best concert they’ve been to.
16. OneRepublic picks their openers very carefully. It’s not always artists similar to themselves but its bands and singers that they feel need more recognition. Personally, I love hearing their openers, and several of them I am now fans of. (The Makemakes, The Script and Josh Kaufman were my favorites!)
17. Covers. "With Or Without You,” "Take Me To Church,” "Seven Nation Army,” "Budapest,” "What A Wonderful World,” the list goes on. They usually do one cover near the end of the show, and it’s usually "What A Wonderful World” in America. Sometimes they even mix songs together…it’s always a fantastic take on a song they wish they had written.
18. It’s a light show. Especially on their most recent tour, they have special input into how the lights and colors work. The effects definitely add to the experience, unlike some artists who think lights are a second thought. With OneRepublic, it blends perfectly.
19. It’s rejuvenating. Lots of concerts are like this, but with OneRepublic, regardless of if you know of the band or not, you feel this immense amount of energy. I have this appreciation, this passion for living in the moment, this love for music being played. And I know I’m not the only person to feel this way.
20. You meet the nicest people ever at these concerts. Its a really nice crowd, even Ryan has commented about it. Young and old, any gender, there are so many great fans in the crowd. They seem interested in the music and the people and they are really kind. They may not know all the members by name but they have an appreciation for the band. It’s not just people who go to concerts for the sake of attending a show.
21. The band looks really good in those black skinny jeans. ;)
22. Even if you know the music or not, there will be something you recognize. The band has said this themselves, they hope you are introduced to their unique, genreless music. They know the importance of each show to everyone and make each one special. OneRepublic knows they can’t disappoint, and they don’t.
I wrote this post in August of 2015, right after my third concert. I really hope they carry these qualities into their next tour and more people will get to see them. My first show of theirs was how I got into them; it was really special to me. If OneRepublic’s in town, take the opportunity and see them. You won’t have any regrets!
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