Jet Close Out North America Tour in Minneapolis
June 15, 2025 - Minneapolis, MN
Jet closed out their North America tour at First Avenue in Minneapolis on June 15. Following their 20th anniversary tour of their debut album, Jet revealed an upcoming album in the works and released "Hurry Hurry" as a new single. This was the first single as a band in 15 years. With that momentum behind them, Jet produced another successful tour.
Band of Skulls got the night started with an 11-song opening set. While I was unfamiliar with their music before the show, the English rock band drew me in. Their gritty indie rock sound and wild movements onstage kept my attention throughout their set. Swedish singer-songwriter, iönä, joined Band of Skulls as a tambourinist and vocalist. Oscillating on stage, iönä's frantic movements, head thrashing, and tambourine playing all at the same time were quite impressive. Her arms had a bat-like quality to them, exacerbated by the flowy sleeves she was wearing.
Though I was unaware of this band, a large portion of the crowd was not. Fans from the front to the back were screaming the lyrics and shouting praise throughout their set. The last night of the tour was an emotional one. Lead singer Russell Marsden emphasized how he was trying not to cry. Playing a majority of songs from 2012 and before, Band of Skulls hit some of their most popular tracks. "I Know What I Am," "Asleep at the Wheel," and "Love Is All You Love” had the crowd excited. They also played their newest song "Rip It Up," which will likely be on the new album they've been working on.
Returning to the stage better than ever, Jet put on the performance of any fan's dream. The setlist largely included songs from their 2003 album, Get Born. There were so many classics that every fan in attendance had to know at least one of them. Interspersed with their old hits was one of their newest singles. "Hurry Hurry," despite being released in 2024, still holds all of their old charm and classic rock ‘n’ roll sound.
The Australian band started a descent into some slower songs beginning with "Bring it On Back.” With an acoustic guitar in hand, frontman Nic Cester explained he was about to play the first song they had ever written, which was "Look What You've Done." It was a beautiful tribute to their career and wasn’t clouded by all the heavy sound.
Things can't be slow for too long at a Jet show because next up was the fan favorite "Are You Gonna Be My Girl." The cheers in the audience were ear-piercing when they heard the iconic opening word, "Go!" Phones were up and recording from the crowd at an all-time high. Everyone wanted to capture the iconic moment. I love nothing more than a song that counts, and growing up, I used to listen to this song on repeat. As someone with brown hair, I loved hearing the “long brown hair” line, which was an added bonus to the counting.
As the concert wrapped up, Jet had a moment in the show influenced by what fans wanted to hear. They had a vote between "Take It or Leave It" and "That's All Lies." The cheers made it obvious they would play "Take It or Leave It." For the few fans who cheered for "That's All Lies," they didn't have to be disappointed for long because Jet played it during their four-song encore.
Ending the North America tour with one final song, the band chose to cover "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" by AC/DC. The song closed out the night perfectly. The message that no matter the bumps and bruises felt along the way, bands everywhere are trying to make it in the world. As a band that has separated two times throughout their career, there was no question why it was the closer. Despite this separation, their chemistry and passion for the music shone through any ill will the band might've held for one another. Fans of the band finally have new music to look forward to, with a new album set to release this year. Jet's longevity, despite the decades and trials and tribulations, is something all musicians can only aspire to achieve.
