BANNERS All Back To Mine Tour – Los Angeles: A Review mikhail, October 10, 2024October 10, 2024 Sharing my concert experience of seeing BANNERS on his All Back To Mine: North American tour in Los Angeles at The Troubadour on August 20th, 2024! This concert was a big deal to me because I have wanted to see him live for years (since 2018). BANNERS announced the show in May and I was with my mom when I got the tweet notification. I immediately said “I WILL be going to this show!’ The tickets were only $25, which is literally A STEAL. I took two Metro buses to get to the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Although I live in Los Angeles, an Uber ride would’ve been $50+ which is way too expensive. I arrived at the venue at exactly 6:00pm to a line of about six people ahead of me. I got there early because I wanted to be as close to the barricade as I could. Security moved our line further down Santa Monica Blvd, since restaurants and bars surround the Troubadour and we were in the way of foot traffic. Thankfully, the line was in the shade, and it was cooling down as it approached 7:00 pm. The Venue Doors opened at 7:00pm and it was surprisingly very cold in the Troubadour. It was super cute inside, and I could totally see why it’s such an iconic venue. It’s honestly very tiny with a 500 person capacity, but seeing your favorite artists up close in a small venue is such a dream. I picked my spot, and if I am not directly at the barricade spot, I stand behind someone much shorter than me so I can see. Thank you to the shorter photographer who was in front of me! Culture Wars “Culture Wars”, an alternative band, was the opening act. I had never heard of them before, but their songs were catchy and unique. The two songs I enjoyed dancing to were “Heaven” and “Wasting My Time”. BANNERS Set As I watched the show, I knew I wanted everything absolutely seared into my brain. I always describe BANNERS as a one-man band, since Mike Nelson (the vocalist) is front and center and he is the main writer on all the songs. There are so many producers, mixers and fellow instrument players that he tours with that are his best friends. He introduced his friends/tour mates/producers on stage, (Olly, Lynny and Christian) and it was wonderful to see! BANNERS setlist Name in Lights Have You Ever Loved Someone If I Didn’t Have You In Your Universe Perfectly Broken Tell You I Love You Broken Hearted Keeps Me Going Best View in Liverpool Anywhere For You Half Light Got It In You (Acoustic) Start A Riot Shine A Light Encore Life’s Just No Fun Ghosts Someone To You I absolutely loved every single song played, but the most important moments to me were hearing these four songs live, which I consider his encouragement songs. His encouragement songs have helped me in different moments of my life. If I Didn’t Have You As soon as I heard the intro “I’ve been building a house,” I just knew I was IN for this, and needed to remember every single moment. “If I Didn’t Have You” was released in March 2021. I was extremely stressed at that period of my life during the pandemic and approaching college graduation . The song is about coming to terms with what you can live with and without, and I always hold it close to my heart. “The ceiling crashed around my feet, broken on the ground was nothing that really mattered to me” “I thought I had nothing to lose, but that’s not the truth, I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you.” Keeps Me Going I have already written about this lovely song in another entry, so I will share the excerpt below. It was so special to me to hear it live. Everyone was up and dancing which was so sweet to see! Starting the song with light guitar strumming and “I’m a mess sometimes, the world knows it better than I do,” made me smile the first time I heard it. With lyrics “when I get lost along this road, there’s a voice that calls me home and keeps me going,” there are many places that voice could come from. It could be your own inner voice, the voice of a friend or loved one, or even your parent’s voice that keeps you going. And of course, I loved the lyric “if I win or if I lose, I will always make it through ‘cause I know I got you to keep me going.” Many of his songs definitely kept me going when I went through difficult times the last few years. Anywhere For You “Anywhere For You” was released in November 2023 and it’s been one of my favorite songs of this year. He starts the song with “now that we’re both standing here in this moment, it’s like there’s no one else here, you’re in focus” along with gentle piano playing. I already know it’s going to be my number one song on my Spotify Wrapped 2024, along with BANNERS being my number one artist fourth year in a row. The instrumentals are beautiful, and who wouldn’t love a song that says “I’d go anywhere for you, if the waves are trying to take you under, well they’re gonna have to take me too”? My favorite part is after the instrumental and crescendo in which he sings “to a place that’s far from where we started, love I promise we’ll always pull through.” Got It In You (Acoustic) “Got It In You” was released in March 2019. Ahead of it’s release, the song played in an episode of the ABC primetime drama ‘The Good Doctor.’ As soon as I heard the intro ‘holding back in the flood in this skyscraper town’ I knew I recognized his voice in the episode. At the time of it’s release, I was still in college away from family, and struggling in a few classes. Hearing my second most listened to song of 2019 live, was so beautiful and it was especially meaningful to hear “you can’t tell that you’re bigger than the sea that you’re sinking in” “When the lights go out and leave you standing in the dark, no one ever told you this would be so hard. I know you think your fire is burning out, but I still see you shining through. “ My Review I rate this concert an absolute 100000/10 perfectly stunning, and everything I could’ve asked for from him. He performed all the songs wonderfully, and very close to the studio versions while also adding a personal touch. He interacted well with the crowd, and was very funny with his friends on stage. If I made my own setlist, I would’ve included my personal favorites ‘Too Soon,’ ‘It’s Gonna Be OK,’ and ‘They All Are’ but I am very happy with what I heard live. This concert will always be one that I cherish with all my heart. If you’re interested in his music, I have included a Spotify playlist of his discography. Visit his official BANNERS website here! concerts concertsin-person concertsmusic