By any measure, the show Tigers Jaw played on Friday, March 17th at Crossroads in Garwood, NJ felt familiar. The band played there roughly around the same time last year to kick off their "Last Minute Magic" Tour, which saw them recover perfectly from a tour that was cancelled, erm, last-minute. The band and venue were familiar, as were much of the sold-out crowd packed into Crossroads. As the band cut into their first few songs, the reactions were familiar, with many devoted fans belting out the lyrics with perfect accuracy. As I took in the band's set, perhaps a bit too close to the stage for my aging ears, I took comfort in the rhythm that I felt was developing here: I could see myself here at Crossroads--perhaps in a different spot next time--taking in a typical Tigers Jaw set, just like this one, for years to come. Some of the songs played would change, but there would be plenty of familiar tunes to sway and sing to.
Very shortly after, however, I learned something that now seems so obvious: there is no such thing as a "typical" Tigers Jaw set.
Before the band took to the stage, the assembling crowd was greeted by Golden Apples, a breezy indie band whose infectious melodies and instrumentation were impossible not to drift around the room to, and they quickly won the room over. It certainly helped that Russell Edling, the band's main songwriter and lead vocalist, was dressed for the holiday in green-shaded glasses, but even if he wasn't dressed as festive, the night would have been off to a great start. Adding to the lore of the night, Edling shared that the group had toured with Tigers Jaw earlier in their career (under Golden Apples's former moniker, Cherry). It added to the intimacy and interconnectivity of those in attendance, as Tigers Jaw provided a great opportunity for a band they were friends with while also providing their fans with a great opening act.
Opening their set with ten songs that spanned their entire near-two-decade career, it was exceedingly difficult to tell what was coming next as Tigers Jaw burst onstage. Once the band ripped into "Window," the closing track from spin, and drove the crowd into its biggest frenzy thus far, it felt like there was still much of the evening left in front of us; after all, the band's setlists onstage clearly had songs listed on the front and back of the page. As those pages flipped over, the final assertion that there's no such thing as a typical Tigers Jaw show was provided, as Ben Walsh non-chalantly announced that the band would be playing their self-titled album (the one with the delicious-looking pizza on the cover) from front to back. In an instant, as they kicked into opening track "The Sun," the room was transported back in time to the Scranton/Philadelphia basements Tigers Jaw clawed their way out of, with mosh pits opening and stage divers launching themselves off the monitors. Crossroads isn't exactly the best venue to support these emotional exhibitions, but the crowd and band thankfully found a way to keep one another safe.
Like so many great bands from the emo/pop-punk scene that have managed to stick around without announcing a "breakup" or "hiatus," Tigers Jaw's commitment to adding wrinkles to certain songs throughout their set means that even a song you've seen them play a dozen times sounds different. This is especially seen through the performance of the band's secret weapon, drummer Teddy Roberts, whose fills command attention from the crowd, one of the biggest examples being single "Warn Me". Fans can also find a great deal of joy in watching Walsh bounce around the stage in between his verses and/or choruses, which is no small feat considering the understated stage at Crossroads. The best vibes of the night, however, were brought by Brianna Collins, whose vocals and songwriting have continued to grow and become a bigger part of the band's DNA over time. Collins greeted the crowd with the wonderful news that her wedding was just around the corner, and the band was using this show and the next one, held the following night in NY's Amityville Music Hall, were considered the pre-wedding celebration for the group of friends (congrats and best of luck to the soon-to-be-newlyweds!). Collins also showered the crowd with Guinness paraphernalia at different times throughout the evening, as the band made sure that those who came for a concert were also treated to a proper St. Patrick's Day celebration.
As if the jubilation of the band's self-titled album being played in full weren't enough, there was one final surprise in Tigers Jaw's setlist: a cover of the Gin Blossoms's 90s anthem "Hey Jealousy," a cover they hadn't played since 2019. It was another assertion that there are not many bands who take such pride and care in making sure that every single one of their shows is special. While I'm sure any band would do a great job playing at a venue like Crossroads, whose intimate setup is perfect for superfans of any artist, it needs to be stressed that Tigers Jaw have proven that they will consistently go the extra mile to make their performances as memorable as possible. That's anything but typical.
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