LOS ANGELES, CA- “Life is better when people are kind” was the message espoused by The Maine frontman John O’Callaghan at the band’s pop-up show December 1 in Los Angeles. The event occurred at the historic No Vacancy where the AZ-based band and an exclusive group of fans gathered to celebrate 20 years of music and the announcement of the band’s headline tour at venues across the country in Spring 2026.
It was all smiles as the band worked their way through a 45-minute set, showcasing one song off each of their nine album eras and concluding with a Christmas single. The mood was celebratory with sing-alongs, special guests, exclusive merch, and plenty of crowd participation as the intimate setting provided a chance for communion with the band and between fans. Kindness was in the air and, indeed, at least for an evening, life was a bit better.
Notification for the free show briefly appeared to eagle-eyed fans on The Maine’s socials a few days prior, directing them to the Hollywood speakeasy-style bar where the line from the door extended all the way down the street toward busy Hollywood Boulevard. For those who didn’t make it into the first set, there was a second, later set, and that’s when I arrived.
The small outdoor area at the back of the Victorian-style house quickly filled with eager fans, some of whom had gotten into the earlier show as well. The buzz at the foot of the porch stage was real as the tour announcement flashed across a large screen and people started planning out the shows they would travel to while discussing the various cities they had visited in the past just to see their favorite band play. The much-quoted lyric “I love you, but I choose The Maine” was not only used to announce the tour cities, but was an apt description for the crowd.
I was able to grab a photo of the set list which I shared with my new friends, and much fervor ensued. “No, the song list from the second set was not exactly the same as the first set’s (but it’s similar). Yes, they are still playing ‘Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu.’ I don’t know why the set list from the early set has a fancier layout with pictures of each album next to the represented song while the second set was just a list of songs (sans picture). Yes, I agree that the second set is better, particularly with the selection of ‘Blame’ from the band’s self-titled 2023 album.”
You know you’re with a group of dedicated fans when set list font size becomes a topic of major scrutiny.
The band’s slightly late start was forgiven as soon as they took to the porch with their wide smiles only rivaling those of the audience. “We All Roll Along” quickly got the crowd going and by the second song (“Right Girl”) it felt like the band and the crowd were in perfect sync. The set was a sing-along dance party with O’Callaghan et al. often sharing vocals with the crowd, whose heads all bobbed in time with the drum beats and pop-rock guitar riffs.
The Maine are known for their upbeat, often catchy sound melded with introspective lyrics that come together to allow the listener to connect both sonically and lyrically. Playing songs representing each of their albums really spoke to the breadth and quality that span their 20-year career, and the fans, right on cue with their parts, demonstrated their loyalty and passion for the songs that have defined a significant portion of their lives.
Several times, O’Callaghan bypassed the literal velvet rope separating the stage and the crowd to engage the fans more directly in both song and dance. When members of the crowd tripped on some stairs, he was there to pick them up and make sure they were okay.
When it came time for a song from 2021’s XOXO: From Love & Anxiety in Real Time, the band opted instead to play contemporary single “Loved You a Little,” which prompted special guest and the song’s co-singer Charlotte Sands to join the party. The arrival of the blue-haired frequent emo collaborator (and apparently new Angeleno) was met with a mix of gasps and squeals from the crowd. The duet was a clear highlight and energy climax for the already high-energy show.
For the final song, things were brought down toward the evening’s denouement as most of the band left the stage and O’Callaghan and guitarist Jared Monaco brought up another special guest, a random audience member in an appropriate shirt, to help sing (read: drunkenly slur shout) The Maine’s holiday song “Ho Ho Hopefully.” Afterwards, the message of kindness was broadcast and received. The show, at this point, felt like one giant hug.
By the end of the set, the comfort level between the band and the crowd allowed for a brief Q&A, a couple of attempts at playing some deep-cut audience requests, and the final, almost ceremonial distribution of the set lists, drumsticks, and guitar picks to the welcoming crowd. The evening was a celebration of the band’s longevity and upcoming tour, but it was also a reminder of the importance of the fan relationship to a band like The Maine and their fans who left the venue glowing and, as always, ready for the next show.
The atmosphere was such that a brief Q&A prompted responses to questions like “Why was XX left off the band’s 2024 When We Were Young festival set list?” The answer was likened to participating on an episode of the cooking show Chopped. Monaco and O’Callaghan then did their best spontaneous attempt to play the song, which prompted shout-outs for more songs. I would have loved to hear another hit like 2021’s “Sticky,” but given the makeup of the audience, of course it was deep-cut requests only (no future request was rewarded).
The entire evening was not just a party, not just a celebration. It was a clear reminder of the importance of the fan relationship to a band like The Maine, who are known for their intimate, fan-centric shows that pepper the time between festival gigs and headline tours. A band that shows kindness toward its fans really does make the world a better place.
Follow The Maine on Facebook, TikTok, X, and Instagram.
*********************
LIVE CLIPS
The Maine Celebrate 20 Years with Intimate No Vacancy Pop Up in Los Angeles
