Live Review & Photos by Danielle Boise
“This show is amazing! You guys are fucking unbelievable.” – Jared Leto
It had been four long years since Thirty Seconds to Mars‘ 2009 album This Is War was released. Life changed and rearranged for the band, as they left EMI and joined Universal Music, which garnered the 2013 release of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful, Love, Lust, Faith + Dreams LP. The band was back on top with serious radio play of the tempo infectious “Up In The Air,” catapulting the band into the stratosphere.
Thirty Seconds to Mars kicked off their Love, Lust, Faith + Dreams Tour on Friday, Sept. 27 at the Tabernacle in the heart of downtown Atlanta for a sold out show with New Politics in support. New Politics started the night off right, as they whipped the crowd into a frenzy and literally shook the “Tabby” to its core as they performed “Harlem,” “Yeah Yeah Yeah” and “Dignity” with bounding energy that left fans breathless.
One of many fascinating moments that happened occurred between New Politics leaving the stage and prior to the arrival of Thirty Seconds to Mars. The colorful array of balloons floated through the air. In a collective gasp, a sea of cell phones raised to capture Thirty Seconds to Mars’ entrance onto the Tabernacle stage. What started off in a sheen of darkness, blossomed into a mixture of blue light interspersed with severe white light broke across the stage, as Shannon Leto entered first, followed by Tomo Milicevic. The crowd erupted into a screaming match as Jared Leto finally appeared draped in a long black feather/fur calf length coat and began pouring himself into a 90-minute life altering set – a performance that was utterly raw, honest and authentically Thirty Seconds to Mars from start to finish.
Thirty Seconds to Mars started the night off by bringing a swell of anticipation and emotion with “Birth” followed by “Night of the Hunter,” “Search and Destroy,” “This is War,” “Conquistador,” “Do or Die” and one of the most powerful songs off its latest release, “End of Days.” With an unexpected twist, Thirty Seconds to Mars crossed genres and covered Rihanna’s “Stay” with a powerful rendition that swept through the Tabernacle like fire, as crowd sang the song back to the band with fiery intensity.
“This is our very first show for the US tour. This show is amazing! You guys are fucking unbelievable. This show is always insane. Part of the “Closer to the Edge” video was shot right here the last time we played here […] This is always an amazing place (Tabernacle), Atlanta. We have the best fans in the world. I hate the word fans … but we have the best family in the world.” Jared Leto said.
Shifting once again, Shannon Leto and Milicevic left the stage, leaving Jared to perform acoustically by himself “Hurricane,” “The Kill (Bury Me)” and “From Yesterday” with a lush sensitivity. After which, the entire band returned to the stage and rounded the night out with “City of Angels” and “Closer to the Edge.”
“Thank you guys for making the most impossible dreams come true. Thank you. We are dedicating the next song to all the believers out there,” Leto said going into “Alibi.”
Leto parted the crowd with some final words of wisdom: “I’m going to tell you one thing … NEVER give up!” before going into the last song of the evening, Leto spotted a little girl at the front of the barricade and had her brought up onto stage. The 6-year-old Ava charmed everyone in the “Tabby,” especially Leto.
“I don’t want to get off the stage, the show has been so amazing, but this is our last song,” Leto said as he brought up as many “family members” that could fit onto the stage as the band went into “Up In The Air.”
Words cannot possibly describe who utterly amazing it is to see a venue filled to the brim with true fans loving every moment of a show, and that was exactly what Thirty Seconds to Mars’ first night of the tour was like in Atlanta. There were so many different waves of emotions being swept through the crowd, with the undercurrent being gratitude, from both the fans and the band. It truly was like going home, being with family, being surrounded by people that understand you and love you for who you are. Thirty Seconds to Mars is like that for so many people. This is a show that will anchor you and bring you back to yourself.
Full Photo Gallery of New Politics
Full Photo Gallery of Thirty Seconds to Mars
