Jukebox the Ghost wows and excites sold out crowd

Jukebox the Ghost returned to Baltimore on Saturday, Feb. 9 for a sold out show at the Ottobar. The last time they were there was in 2009 but the show was not nearly as packed. “A few of you were there,” Tommy Siegel, vocals and guitar, said, pointing to the crowd. “It looks like you had babies.”

“You were busy,” Ben Thornewill, vocals and piano, quipped. This was the kind of banter that charmed the audience between songs. The set was full and the men of Jukebox the Ghost were having fun. The crowd was, as well.

Drummer Jesse Kristin had a terrible flu and discreetly took medicine during some of the banter. His dedication to the performance and seemingly sunny disposition made him even more likeable.

Almost all of the songs were lively and had the audience dancing. The band was just as excited as the crowd that the show was sold out. “It is a sold out night in Baltimore, and we are professionals,” they assured everyone. But that did not stop them from cracking jokes left and right. Probably the most expressive out of the trio was Thornewill, who explained that while they were still early in their tour, they had played civilized performances elsewhere but “Baltimore, you make me really weird.”

The crowd further proved Baltimore’s charm by cheering the tune of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” for the encore, in unison. When the three got back on stage, Thornewill asked, “Wait, is that a normal thing? Is that your anthem?” And someone shouted that it was a Ravens thing. The Ravens, of course, use this song to pump up. The encore consisted of two songs, including one of their hits “Good Day.”

The band had a fantastic dynamic. You could tell they were friends and enjoyed their traditions. One such tradition is playing a “cheesey 80’s cover” which, this time, was Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” They also started playing a bit of “Don’t Stop Believing” for fun and stopped, but the audience continued to sing. “Stop singing this song. That’s quite enough,” they joked.

The two singers Siegel and Thornewill had beautiful harmonies together. A notably beautiful harmony exists in “Matter of Time.” Some crowd favorites from the night were “The Spiritual,” “Static to the Heart” and “Man in the Moon.”

The venue was perfect for them. The opening acts, the well-paired Lighthouse and the Whaler and Matt Pond played a fitting amount of songs. The band did the indie rock genre proud with a brilliant performance. The silly jokes, the excited fans and the close quarters made for a great atmosphere and a great time.