Doesn’t everyone want to run from their hometown at some point?
Boston is my hometown. A born and raised New Englander, I often take the beauty and comfort of the place I am from for granted. But last Saturday, August 23rd, the sold-out “Greetings From Your Hometown/ Jonas 20” tour by the Jonas Brothers reminded me exactly why I love it here in the first place.
While it’s not my first time at a concert by the former Disney darlings, this show was something entirely different. The “Greetings From Your Hometown / Jonas 20” tour is a full-blown celebration of the band’s two-decade-long career, spanning seven studio albums, solo ventures, and more than a few iconic Disney Channel moments. What sets this apart from their previous tours, you ask? Iconic special guests, surprise solo performances, and a sensational setlist.
Before the show even started, Fenway had already transformed into “Jonascon,” a nostalgia-soaked shrine to all things JoBros. There were outfits from Camp Rock on display, tour costumes from the mid-2000s, vintage iPods loaded with deep cuts and hits alike, and interactive games hosted by local radio station Kiss108 and Big Rob (yes, that Big Rob, from “Burnin’ Up”). Even their youngest brother Frankie Jonas, the “bonus Jonas,” made a surprise appearance — and pulled double duty as one of the opening acts.
Still buzzing with nostalgia, I made it into the park just as Boys Like Girls finished their set, and the energy was electric. Fans were dressed to the nines, pulling out every bit of early-2000s inspiration they could muster, the most memorable being three friends who took it back to the 1770s dressed as Paul Revere holding a sign that read “The Jonas Brothers Are Coming.”
I’ll say this: I’m not usually a concert screamer. I don’t faint at the sight of celebrities. I dance, I sing along, I enjoy. But Saturday night? I became 12-year-old Nicole all over again.
There was no stopping it. The Jonas Brothers launched into hit after hit, each one striking a different chord in my memory. Kevin declared Boston his hometown for the night, a nod to the album and tour name, and the crowd lost it. The entire show was perfectly paced, nostalgic without being stale, and full of surprises.
At certain tour stops, the Brothers were bringing out special guests. So, when the music slowed and Joe took the mic, my stomach dropped with anticipation. ”Oh my god, it’s really happening,” I whispered to my friend as Joe began delivering a heartfelt monologue about an artist who had deeply influenced him. He never named them, just spoke with reverence, letting anticipation build — before suddenly welcoming Dashboard Confessional to the stage. If you aren’t familiar with the group, they sang your favorite song from the Shrek 2 soundtrack, “As Lovers Go.”
Cue a crowd-wide meltdown.
And that wasn’t the only surprise. Pop royalty Jesse McCartney (who dominated the Disney Channel music scene alongside the JoBros in the early 2000s) came out to perform “Beautiful Soul” and “Leavin,” and Massachusetts native JoJo graced the stage later in the night for a soulful rendition of her hit song “Too Little Too Late.” The crowd couldn’t believe it, and neither could I. I’d hoped for one special guest, sure, (especially after the New Jersey tour stop saw Demi Lovato come out to sing hits from Camp Rock), but three of my all-time favorite artists joining my favorite group, live on stage, in the same night?
I nearly lost it.
But perhaps the most unexpectedly emotional moment came when Kevin Jonas, long known as the quietest of the trio, took center stage to sing solo for the first time ever. The entire stadium held its breath as he performed, visibly moved. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t overproduced, it was just Kevin, a guitar, and a dream 20 years in the making. His wife, Danielle, was brought to tears as the crowd chanted his name, leaving the stadium soaring with one collective question: why have they been keeping his beautiful voice a secret this whole time?
@danielle.jonas Last night was a moment I will never forget. Hearing you sing your own song and watching your voice fill the stadium brought me to tears. I am beyond proud of you @Kevin Jonas ♬ original sound – Danielle Jonas
As the show came to a close, Kevin, Nick, and Joe were joined by their father, Kevin Jonas Sr., and their younger brother, Frankie, for the final song – the 2007 hit, “When You Look Me In The Eyes.” The Jonas’ wanted to come together as a family on stage, citing the origins of their music career as this exact scenario: the family joined around a piano in their New Jersey home, Kevin Sr. on piano, and everyone singing along. For one night, we were part of the family.
“The Greeting From Your Hometown / Jonas 20” tour was more than a concert. It was a full-circle moment for everyone who grew up with the Jonas Brothers — a celebration not just of the band, but of who we were when we first heard them. And somewhere in the middle of it all, I remembered exactly why we never let go of the things that made us. For me, that’s the Jonas Brothers.
Featured Photo Credit: Deanie Chen
You can find tickets to see the Jonas Brothers live on tour here.