"Moves Like Jagger," the current hit of Maroon 5, served as the band's opening song Sunday at Starlight Theater.
The sassy strut of Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine may resemble the antics of Mick Jagger, but his band's music evokes another icon with the same initials. The beloved hits of Michael Jackson serve as the obvious inspiration of the Los Angeles-based band. Unwaveringly commercial, Maroon 5 melds pop, rock, funk and disco with impeccable precision. A capacity audience of almost 8,000 eagerly consumed Maroon 5's wares Sunday.
Starlight Theater resembled an outdoor dance club with an excellent sound system during Maroon 5's 75-minute performance. The state-of-the-art dance music played by the six-piece band was frothy but effective. Most of the 14 songs in Maroon 5's setlist, including the hits "Misery" and "This Love," concern sensuality and seduction. The material on the band's three albums can seem frivolous, but the songs sounded vastly more consequential Sunday.
Compared to Maroon 5, co-headlining band Train is devoid of sex appeal. The members of the San Francisco-based band probably wouldn't draw a second look if they dined on the Plaza. That everyman persona resonates in Kansas City. Train may be one of the most critically derided bands in rock, but fans showered the band with affection Sunday. The audience responded to every moment of Train's 75-minute set as if the Beatles were on stage. The band earned the rapturous reception.
The charming "Meet Virginia," the word-drunk "If It's Love" and even the deeply polarizing hit "Hey, Soul Sister" were engaging. Women and girls were summoned to the stage to sing along with "She's On Fire." Patrick Monahan roamed the audience as he crooned "Marry Me." Video interludes allowed the band to recalibrate between a few songs. The band's appearance may have been loaded with gimmicks, but all of them worked.
Opening act Matt Nathanson relied on his native street savvy. Backed by a four-piece band, the road-tested troubadour read the mood of the audience and tailored his set accordingly. His 40-minute appearance offered an appealing blend of his strongest material and choice cover songs. By demonstrating an uncommon commitment to entertaining the audience rather than insisting on a hard sell, he easily won it over. Besides, talent like his doesn't require "moves like Jagger."
Maroon 5's setlist: Moves Like Jagger; Harder To Breathe; Sunday Morning; If I Never See Your Face Again;
Misery; Makes Me Wonder; The Sun; Give a Little More; Never Gonna Leave This Bed; Wake Up Call; Stutter; This Love; Hands All Over; She Will Be Loved.
Compared to Maroon 5, co-headlining band Train is devoid of sex appeal. The members of the San Francisco-based band probably wouldn't draw a second look if they dined on the Plaza. That everyman persona resonates in Kansas City. Train may be one of the most critically derided bands in rock, but fans showered the band with affection Sunday. The audience responded to every moment of Train's 75-minute set as if the Beatles were on stage. The band earned the rapturous reception.
The charming "Meet Virginia," the word-drunk "If It's Love" and even the deeply polarizing hit "Hey, Soul Sister" were engaging. Women and girls were summoned to the stage to sing along with "She's On Fire." Patrick Monahan roamed the audience as he crooned "Marry Me." Video interludes allowed the band to recalibrate between a few songs. The band's appearance may have been loaded with gimmicks, but all of them worked.
Opening act Matt Nathanson relied on his native street savvy. Backed by a four-piece band, the road-tested troubadour read the mood of the audience and tailored his set accordingly. His 40-minute appearance offered an appealing blend of his strongest material and choice cover songs. By demonstrating an uncommon commitment to entertaining the audience rather than insisting on a hard sell, he easily won it over. Besides, talent like his doesn't require "moves like Jagger."
Maroon 5's setlist: Moves Like Jagger; Harder To Breathe; Sunday Morning; If I Never See Your Face Again;
Misery; Makes Me Wonder; The Sun; Give a Little More; Never Gonna Leave This Bed; Wake Up Call; Stutter; This Love; Hands All Over; She Will Be Loved.
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
Ummm, how can a dude say another dude is devoid of sex appeal? I think the thousands of women at this show would disagree. A band doesn't make it successfully for 15 years without something. I think you wrote this review before you even walked in the show. Pat Monahan is a huge talent and a sexy MF. Oh, I can only dream to be as hip as you reviewers. Four crappy musicians can play some dank, dark bar in KC and they're god, but be successful... and you stink. Nothing wrong with a little fluff once in a while.
Posted by: LM | September 05, 2011 at 10:29 AM
ouch! sorry you got an assignment you didn't want. i'm not a huge fan of either band, but i had a great time and from the looks of the 8000 fans around me, they did too!
Posted by: fun | September 05, 2011 at 03:43 PM
Tim,
As I know you're a big fan of Train, I was curious as to how you could pass this show up? (snicker)
Posted by: wadkc | September 05, 2011 at 03:43 PM
""Ummm, how can a dude say another dude is devoid of sex appeal?""
If you knew BB, and it would be obvious.
Posted by: George | September 05, 2011 at 04:57 PM
Looking forward to your better and better articles.See you next time
Posted by: North Face Coupons | September 05, 2011 at 09:44 PM
wow, talk about a sh*t sandwich of a show.
Posted by: vcr | September 06, 2011 at 08:22 AM
I always thought Maroon 5 was going for more of a Stevie Wonder vibe.
Posted by: Average Jane | September 06, 2011 at 01:47 PM
I wouldn't mind seeing Maroon 5 doing "Strutter".
Posted by: Andy Lester | September 08, 2011 at 09:26 AM
So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)
Posted by: Belstaff Bags | December 05, 2011 at 02:19 AM