For a band that’s been part of your life for over a decade, some shows feel bigger than others. Photographing The Maine at The Salt Shed was one of those moments for me—something that’s been on my bucket list since high school, back when concert photography still felt like a far-off dream.

I first discovered The Maine in a pretty random way—my brother’s high school crush had them playing when she came over one day. I ended up going down a YouTube rabbit hole after that, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Even though I haven’t made it to as many of their shows as I’d like, they’ve never disappointed me live. Every era has felt like it grows with me, and every release pulls me further in.

That’s what made this night feel especially meaningful. Chicago hosted the release show for their tenth album, Joy Next Door, and it felt fitting—this city always shows up for them. In the days leading up, they even partnered with Willis Tower (still the Sears Tower to most locals) to light it up green and run ticket giveaways, turning the album release into something bigger than just a show.

By the time I got to The Salt Shed, the energy had already been building. Walking into the photo pit, I won’t lie—I was nervous. This wasn’t just another set for me, it was a band that’s meant a lot to me for years, and I wanted to do it justice.

From the moment they stepped on stage, it was clear this was going to be a standout The Maine live show. The venue was completely packed, and the crowd matched their energy immediately. Even though the tour began before the release of Joy Next Door, meaning only a few new songs were in the setlist, the show never felt lacking. Instead, it became a strong, balanced mix of their entire discography.

One of the most special moments was hearing “Green” make its live debut. On release day, it felt like a quiet but meaningful addition to the set.

Then there are the moments you can’t plan.

During “We All Roll Along,” John O’Callaghan stepped into the crowd and found a fan named Tom, someone he recognized from attending nearly every The Maine show. He handed the song over to him, and Tom took over vocals while John crowd surfed back to the stage. It was chaotic in the best way, and very on-brand for The Maine’s connection with fans.

The crowd never dropped energy. Every lyric, chant, and clap during “Blame” was fully locked in from start to finish. It never felt like the band was carrying the show alone—it was completely shared between stage and audience.

Later in the set, they brought out their touring mates—Friday Pilots Club, Grayscale, and Nightly—for their nightly tradition of performing “Take Me Dancing” together. It’s a moment that could easily feel routine, but instead it reinforces the community side of the tour. No matter the size of the band, everyone shares the same stage.

The night closed with “Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu,” but even that came with one final highlight. Tom made his way back—this time crowd surfing all the way to the stage—where John pulled him up to finish the song with him. It felt like a full-circle moment that perfectly captured what a The Maine concert in Chicago feels like.

What stands out most about The Maine is how they’ve grown without losing what made people connect with them in the first place. The 8123 community is at the center of that, and it never feels like an afterthought. They show up for their fans in every way possible, whether that’s moments like these during the set or staying behind after the show to meet fans once the venue clears out.

Walking into that room as someone who’s been a fan since 2010 and documenting it from the pit felt surreal. This The Maine Chicago show felt like everything aligning at once—and it honestly felt exactly how I hoped it would.