Phoenix Lives the "Good Life" with OneRepublic

Well-known for their radio hits such as “Apologize,” “Secrets,” and “Counting Stars,” OneRepublic has brought non-stop creativity to the music industry. Front-man and vocalist Ryan Tedder has additionally established himself as a songwriter for many other pop artists-- Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, to name a few. Whether they’re touring around the world or creating something new in the studio, OneRepublic never fails to demonstrate their fantastic abilities as a band.

For the past decade, the Honda Civic Tour annually announces an artist to headline their national summer tour as an advertisement for their brand, and this past year OneRepublic was the headlining group. They set off across the US and Canada with rising pop artist James Arthur and alternative-pop band Fitz and the Tantrums. The three artists stopped by Ak-Chin Pavilion in Phoenix on August 29, 2017-- in the middle of one of Arizona’s many infamous summers. The venue is an outdoor arena consisting of lawn seating, water misters near entrances, and shaded seats that shield the audience from too much sun. Although the overall concert was a captivating experience and it was incredible to witness the tour, it’s hard to deny that the consistent heat played a significant role in the crowd’s venue experience.

First to perform was James Arthur, British singer-songwriter well-known for his breakout single “Say You Won’t Let Go.” His passionate voice and mellow guitar greeted the audience with his performances of “Can I Be Him” and “Sober.” Next was Fitz and the Tantrums, who delivered a vivid and energizing set. They opened with their enthusiastic song “Get Right Back.” Soon after, they continued to reflect their lively energy while the crowd danced during “Out of My League” and “Fool.” Their cover of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” had everyone singing along and echoing the band’s melodies. Before ending their set, they couldn’t leave without performing two of their biggest hits “HandClap” and “The Walker.” Their colorful performance consisted of an accompanying horn player and vocal harmonies between each member.

As the lights went low for OneRepublic’s entrance, fog emanated from a couple machines on stage, creating a mysterious yet exciting approach to the band’s arrival. Bright lights flashed to the instrumental intro of their song “NbHD” and a spotlight shined on Tedder as he emerged with his guitar to start-- what seemed like-- a calmer rendition of “Stop and Stare,” their 2008 chart topper. The crowd echoed the lyrics until Tedder held out a passionate note before the chorus. As the band transitioned into a faster tempo, they matched the original components of the song, including the dominant guitar and empowering drums, without missing a single beat or note.

Soon after, bassist Brent Kutzle brought out his cello to perform the well-known intro to “Secrets” while the crowd cheered him on. He accompanied Tedder and the rest of the band as they delivered a melodic performance filled with heartfelt harmonies and soulful strings. OneRepublic continued to acknowledge their most recent album Oh My My, which was released in 2016, with a guitar-driven performance of “Kids” that demonstrated Tedder’s talents as a vocalist; straying from the original sound a bit, but adding a flare of falsetto. Oh My My’s unique sound was also shown during a powerful performance of “Better.” The drums served as the backbone of the song, keeping rhythm with it’s dominating beat, alongside the smooth and passionate sounds of Kutzle’s cello. Tedder sang that “things are only getting better,” setting the tone for the rest of the night-- which was definitely proved to be true.

Color and confetti surrounded the venue during “Feel Again.” Purple and red lights illuminated the stage as Tedder engaged with the enthusiastic crowd. As the song came to an end, the set reached a mellow point in which most of the performances were accompanied by the sincere sounds of piano. Tedder told the crowd stories of how he’d written numerous songs for other pop artists before performing two covers of Beyonce’s “Halo” and Ed Sheeran’s “Happier” (both of which were co-written by Ryan Tedder). The audience sang along with Tedder as he played the piano with all his heart and emotion, a quality that characterizes him as a genuine musician-- he deeply cares about music, whether it’s for himself or others.

The crowd’s emotion perked back up during “I Lived,” one of OneRepublic’s most empowering songs, from their 2013 album Native. Audience members all around the venue sang every lyric as the stage provided a visually-pleasing array of green and white lights that blinked along with the beat. After touching upon their last 10 years as a band with performances of “All the Right Moves” and “Let’s Hurt Tonight,” the band transitioned into a different mood; guitarist Zach Filkins showcased his talent with a flamenco solo under the spotlight. His solo had the crowd clapping along and cheering him on before Tedder returned to the piano for “Apologize”-- the song that introduced us to the talents of OneRepublic back in 2007. Kutzle brought out his cello once again to join Tedder’s emotional, piano-dominated melodies. The audience became nostalgic of the first time they heard the band enter the music scene; they sang along to every memory-filled lyric.

Multi-colored laser rays and an arrangement of vivid lights put on a show during the band’s performances of “Rich Love,” one of their most recent single releases, and “If I Lose Myself,” the dynamic hit from Native that never fails to energize the crowd. Large and powerful drums provided a dominant beat for the audience to dance along to during the chorus. But the part that really made this portion of the concert significant was Tedder’s interaction with the audience. He stepped down from the stage to walk past the first few sections of the floor or lower level seating before running past the slightly higher seats. His sudden appearance brought energy to everyone, energizing their moods and reminding them of the experience they were taking part in that night.

OneRepublic couldn’t leave without a performance of possibly their biggest hit of their music career: “Counting Stars.” The song kicked off the band’s encore of a few more songs with a bright start; as fans in the back sang along to the song, they shined the flashlights on their phones to create a constellation of lights. Tedder walked through the first few rows of seating once again and his fiery energy mirrored that of the sparkler guns that were ignited at the edges of the stage.

Fitz and the Tantrums came back on stage with OneRepublic to play their engaging arrangement of Adele’s “Rumour Has It” (another one of Ryan Tedder’s melodic pieces written for another artist). The crowd jumped along to the bands’ rendition that consisted of snazzy horn harmonies from Fitz and the Tantrums and passionate vocals from OneRepublic. The night came to a closing with OneRepublic’s dynamic single “Love Runs Out,” filled with a powerful drum beat and rhythmic sounds of the piano. Ryan Tedder displayed his vocal talents one last time, hitting each and every low and high note on key, while silver-tinted confetti rained over the venue. It was the compelling finale to an energetic night; for a concert filled with an energetic line-up and engaging sets, it deserved one of the most memorable and powerful endings possible.

Set:

Stop and Stare

Secrets

Kids

Good Life

Wherever I Go

Better

Feel Again

Halo

Happier

Come Home

I Lived

All the Right Moves

Let’s Hurt Tonight

Apologize

Rich Love

If I Lose Myself

Encore:

Counting Stars

Rumor Has It

Love Runs Out