The Maine Sell Out 9:30 Club During Electrifying Washington, D.C. Stop

Fans packed into the legendary 9:30 Club as The Maine brought their “I LOVE YOU BUT… I CHOSE THE MAINE” tour to a completely sold-out crowd in Washington, D.C.

The night marked one of the most anticipated stops of the band’s first headlining tour in nearly two years, following a massive 2025 festival run that included appearances at Warped Tour, Boston Calling, and When We Were Young Festival.  

The Arizona rock group — made up of John O’Callaghan, Kennedy Brock, Jared Monaco, Garrett Nickelsen, and Pat Kirch — delivered a career-spanning set that blended fan favorites, deep cuts, and newer material as the crowd sang nearly every lyric back to the stage.

Opening the night were Broadside, Grayscale, and Nightly, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and music beginning shortly after 6:30 p.m.

The Maine hit the stage around 9:10 p.m. and immediately ignited the venue with “Green” before moving through an emotional and high-energy 22-song setlist. Highlights included “Sticky,” “Loved You a Little,” “Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu,” and a tour debut performance of “Ice Cave.” The band closed the night with the fan-favorite anthem “Another Night on Mars.”

Fans online described the Washington stop as one of the strongest shows of the entire tour, praising both the energy inside the venue and the carefully crafted setlist.

The tour itself represents the beginning of a new era for The Maine, who are currently working on their upcoming tenth studio album. Since emerging in 2007 and releasing their debut album Can’t Stop Won’t Stop in 2008, the band has built one of the most loyal fanbases in alternative rock while consistently evolving their sound. Over nearly two decades, they’ve released nine studio albums, headlined festivals around the world, and continued to thrive independently on their own terms.

For many in attendance Sunday night, the sold-out D.C. performance proved exactly why The Maine continue to remain one of the scene’s most beloved live bands.

Photo Credits: Taylor Barber