There is something special about having the opportunity to see one of your favorite bands play a hometown show, especially when you’re from a different part of the country all together. There are very few bands that garner enough love and respect from me to even have me entertain the notion of flying out of see them play a show in front of a hometown crowd (especially when you have to take into consideration that up until this point, I had never even been on a plane before), but The Maine has done just that. Over the past couple years it has become a dream of mine to make the trip to Arizona and pay homage to them by seeing them play and I was delighted that I was given the chance!

  The only thing that was high on my list of things to do while in Arizona, well, it was the number one thing actually, was to make, what I’ve come to call it, the pilgrimage to the M wall. After a few things going wrong with my trip which almost ruined everything, I somehow gathered the strength to make the journey to the M wall and I am beyond words to describe what it felt like to finally be there. Pulling up to the building where the M is painted and knowing that I was actually seeing it in person was a surreal feeling that nearly left me breathless and practically speechless. Though I only spent a few moments out there, it was well worth the journey and I do highly suggest that any of you who are presented with the opportunity to visit the wall should do so! You will not be disappointed.

The show itself is something that I just cannot find the words to justify the feeling of love and camaraderie that was present within the confines of the Marquee Theater in Tempe. It was a night of high emotions and the warm embrace of an exuberant hometown crowd. Mixed into the set were songs from the early days (I Must Be Dreaming, Into Your Arms) along with the new (Ice Cave, Good Love) and the energy from The Maine on stage was nothing short of pure perfection, it was quite obvious they were feeding off of the high energy crowd that was more than edger to welcome the five men in The Maine home. I was nearly brought to tears on several occasions throughout the night from just the overwhelming sense of pride of knowing I have watched this band grow over the past few years and to the topic of the importance of friendship brought up during the set. Overall, this trip to Arizona was one that seemed to be in my destiny. I found a little bit of myself here and grew in the face of adversity, as well as being touched by a band whose music and welcoming towards myself has undoubtedly changed my life. So Kennedy, John, Pat, Garrett and Jared: Thank you for absolutely everything you have done for me over the years. If tonight was any indication, you will be around for years to come.