The Jonas Brothers are on tour. Again. Perhaps that’s not interesting to you! Trust me, I get it. When I heard the Jonas Brothers were dressing up in tight little outfits and performing their early-aughts hits, I was also unmoored.
Maybe it’s time to reevaluate.
On August 12, the Jo-Bros kicked off their new world tour—which is simply titled, The Tour—at Yankee Stadium. The premise? Five albums. One Night. No skips. Think of it as their version of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, but even more expansive. For comparison, Swift plays 44 tracks during her show. The Jonas Brothers somehow managed to cram 67 onto their setlist. (Am I the only one who didn’t know the Jonas Brothers even made that many songs?) It's certainly ambitious—but that's clearly the point. Following their split in 2013, Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas have been hellbent on making a comeback. Since then, they’ve released two albums, Happiness Begins and The Album, and performed two reunion tours.
I went to the group's Happiness Begins tour. Honestly? I had a great time. But part of the fun was the nostalgia. It was organic. Not forced, like you'd think The Tour might be. And why should it? The Jonas Brothers' pop-culture imprint is undeniable. Take “Lovebug,” for example. In 2008, the ballad dominated the charts, and and it was a go-to melody for lovesick tweens across the globe. Adults, too. I can vividly remember my roommate playing it on a loop after her situation-ship went wrong—and that was 10 years after its release date. When the Jonas Brothers sang it at Happiness Begins, I belted the lyrics with that roommate in mind.
Even so, the Jonas Brothers are still underdogs. When I first heard of The Tour—and its whopping setlist—I assumed it was a direct counter to anyone who dares to question their legacy. What better way to prove naysayers wrong than by making people listen to every song you’ve ever made? "See?” I imagined Nick belting midway through a rowdy "Burnin Up" rendition. "You love this one!"
Well, folks. I might have a lot of opinions, but I also know when to admit I’m wrong. After speaking with my friend—and certified Jonas Brothers superfan—Sarah Stinson, who attended the show (and absolutely loved it), I can confirm The Tour is not a money grab. In fact, it sounds magical. After the concert, Sarah texted our group chat with a scorching take: “I’ve decided ‘When You Look Me In The Eyes' is actually one of the great classic rock songs of all time.” Naturally, I had... some follow-up questions. Below, we talk about the Jonas Brothers’ legacy, how the music industry may have failed them, and why you should give "Lovebug" another listen.
ESQUIRE: Let's start with a few highlights from the big night.
SARAH STINSON: There are two. When they performed “Lovebug,” one of their biggest songs, they incorporated fireworks. It’s one of the earlier songs [in the show], and the legacy of that song has outlasted some of their other work. It was a spectacular moment.
Another thing that I noticed: any time they mention their significant others or families, the crowd goes absolutely insane. It cracks me up. We were all obsessed with the Jonas Brothers. I wanted to marry Nick Jonas! Seeing them talk about how happy and in love they are [and experiencing the crowd’s reaction] is just funny to me. Their fanbase has grown with them.
Oh, totally. I remember kids collecting J-14 posters with their faces on them.
Yes! And It was always such a chore because there would be different band members on each side of the poster, so you’d be like, How am I supposed to choose?!
I heard they played 67 songs during the show. Were there any dull moments?
There were definitely portions when you could find time to leave and buy merch, or get food or something. You had to decide which era you wanted to see, because they did five albums. I ducked out during one of the albums that I didn’t know as well. Anyone could find a dull moment, depending on which album they didn’t feel connected to. It was easier on the second night because we had the setlist. People who went the first night might have had a bit of a different experience.
It’s funny how so many artists are doing career-spanning tours.
I know! For this concert, it felt like they were testing out material that [might] resonate with crowds. They haven’t done this in so long. They don’t know what works as well in stadiums. It kind of felt like a trial.
The other day, you mentioned that the Jonas Brothers aren't taken seriously. Why?
I’ve been a fan of boy bands my whole life, and a lot of people would identify with trying to defend their obsession with a boy band. But no one takes it seriously, because they think they’re just trying to make pop hits and money. Or that they’re just trying to appeal to teenage girls, who are never taken seriously.
But I feel like, with the Jonas Brothers, [it’s because] they just resonate with women. While watching the concert, I was like, I don’t understand why this isn’t considered rock. It is a rock concert. At least parts of it. Obviously, their sound has changed. But if you don’t have that root with the Jonas Brothers—if you didn’t take them seriously back then—you’re not going to now.
It’s hard for boy bands to break out of the tween label. It seems like the smartest of the bunch—like Harry Styles, for example—go the rock route.
Definitely.
I’m not a big Tom Petty fan, but I remember when Harry's House debuted, my roommate played it for her dad because she heard the similarities between the two.
When Harry did his first album, it was a huge deal because it got the attention of Rolling Stone. It felt like the first time he was taken seriously outside of One Direction. I don’t think One Direction would ever be taken seriously now, outside of a nostalgic boyband. The Jonas Brothers are really trying to make that transition. But I don’t think they’ve gotten that seal of approval.
Not yet. I feel like when boy bands break up, they either pursue “serious” music or raunchy “I’m an adult” songs.
Nick Jonas did that. He’s the youngest, and he’s always tried so hard to be taken seriously. During his solo career, you could really see him be like, I’m not a teenager. He has some good songs, and he performed them [at the concert]. He sang “Jealous.” It was so fun. Then, Joe performed “Cake By The Ocean,'' which is completely different, but just as fun. They shouldn’t need to prove they’re adults, but I guess they do.
I feel like the industry has set them up to feel that way, but the Jonas Brothers are interesting because they’re a family band. Maybe that makes it even harder.
Yeah, like you’ll always see Kevin as the oldest one. He doesn’t even talk that much during the concert—he’s just there to support. Then you see Nick and Joe being so brotherly. Anyone who has siblings knows what that’s like. It’s funny to watch, because you never really grow out of it.
Do you think they need to shed the family-band image?
They tried to go through that journey. They had to break up. They had to see what it takes to be alone. They had to go on their journeys and kind of flop. But in their album Happiness Begins, they come back together and are OK with the fact that they are a family. That’s their thing—and they can play to that strength. It’s insane that they’re still able to play Yankee Stadium. It’s huge.
After seeing the show, you told me that “When You Look Me in the Eyes” is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. Explain.
I have loved that song as long as I've known it, so I was having the time of my life. When it ended I texted my boyfriend, Kevin. He’s always poking fun at my love of boy bands. So I was like, “I don’t think you understand how much fun it is to be a woman and experience this. This music is so powerful.”
It’s a very nostalgic song, but it really packs a punch. “When You Look Me in the Eyes,” is like Aerosmith's “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” That’s what it is to me, and I’m only 26. This song came out when I was 10—I wasn’t in love with anyone [back then] and it still hit. It’s a classic rock power ballad, and I was just so taken aback by the whole experience [of hearing it live].
It felt like I was experiencing rock history, while still having to convince people around me [that they were, too]. Even the people I went with. I was like, “I don’t think you’re understanding this. This is insane!”
That’s an interesting point—the part about being a woman in the environment and the song's connection to your collective childhood.
When I was a kid, I couldn’t afford tickets for the Jonas Brothers, and no one took me. So this was my first time experiencing it. To me, that is a testament to their success. I got to see them live and be with this crowd of women who also used to be obsessed with them.
Can you tell me more about the musical arrangements? Were there any specific songs or transitions that really stuck out?
They really played with “Love Bug.” They had the audience get really quiet in the beginning, then the song builds up and explodes. It’s just amazing that they were able to commandeer that large of an audience and get everyone to participate.
I feel like they were experimental with a lot of the songs on their newer albums. Even though they’d only play the first 30 seconds of some, the way they wove them together was delightful. Also, “A Little Bit Longer” was incredible. It’s Nick's famous song about diabetes. I remember watching the music video and being really sad. It still hits.
