"Jonah Marais' Young & Optimistic: The Tour Stops in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania"

Photo courtesy of Erica Remboske

On Sep. 7, 2024, 26-year-old singer-songwriter Jonah Marais and his openers took the stage at The Foundry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Young & Optimistic: The Tour. This tour is Jonah's very first tour since his former boy band, Why Don't We, broke up in 2022, as well as his very first solo tour.

The stage lit up for the first opener, Candice Lee, a local artist from Philadelphia. She performed a few songs, including "Permission" and "How Can I," in addition to a number of  unreleased songs. The up-and-coming artist is known for her relatable tracks, detailing tales of heartbreak and dealing with issues of trust in a relationship. Her music was calm and laid back, and though not all of the audience was familiar with her songs, she quickly won over the crowd.

Candice's performance was followed by alternate band lazyacres, another local Philly group on the rise. They sang unreleased songs such as "Catching Waves" and "Dead Precedents." They also sang fan-favorite songs "Aloe" and "Clay." They were another act unfamiliar to much of the audience, but they proved they're the kind of group you'd want to see perform again and again with an incredible stage presence as they jumped around the stage with their guitars. They had just the right energy to hype up the crowd for the final act.

At last, Jonah took the stage around 8:50 p.m, singing "Twisted Lullaby," from his debut solo album The Jonah Marais Mixtape, which released in June. He also sang some others off the album, including "Redlight" and "Miracle Fruit," and even covered Tracy Chapman's iconic "Fast Car."

A few of his fans got emotional during his performance of an older song, "Warpaint." Not only did he perform his solo tracks, but he also sang some songs from his Why Don't We days, getting the audience excited with his renditions of "Grey" and "8 Letters." Performing his previous band's songs filled the air with a sentimental vibe that the audience really responded to.

Jonah also brought Candice back up onstage to help join him in performing "Heaven." She played the harp while he sang along, creating a sweet moment that fans loved. He followed it with a few more of his newer songs, as well as some unreleased tracks.

When he finally left the stage, within a minute, the audience immediately started calling for an encore. In less than two minutes, he returned to the stage and performed another unreleased song of his, "Slow Motion." The concert concluded at around 9:45 p.m, marking the end of a stunning show that created a calming and inviting atmosphere, with the audience eager to see all three performers again.

Following the concert, there was a smaller open meetup with both of the openers and Jonah chatting to fans. There was also a meet and greet line for Jonah outside for hours after the concert ended, demonstrating the care and attention he always gives his fans.