Buffalo catches the ‘Lovebug’

 On Aug. 30, 2009, 12-year-old Sarah Scott’s dreams came true when she saw the Jonas Brothers live in Toronto.

Ten years later –– and wearing the same t-shirt from 2009 –– her childhood dreams came true again, this time with a beer in her hand.

“We bought our [Jonas Brothers’] tickets in May but we got these printed shirts in 2009. [We kept them] for the day they’d get back together,” Scott joked of her friends’ ensembles. “It’s so weird, I never thought I’d be coming here ten years later.”

Scott was one of many Buffalonians who found themselves burnin’ up Tuesday night. Not with a fever or the flu, but with the Jonas Brothers’ "Lovebug." Buffalo’s tweens, twenty-somethings and their moms gathered at the KeyBank Center to see a millennials’ dream concert –– the Jonas Brothers’ reunion “Happiness Begins Tour.” Continuing Buffalo’s summer of throwbacks, including New Kids on the Block; Earth, Wind and Fire; Nelly and Nas soon to come, the Jonas Brothers’ comeback perfectly balanced new with nostalgia with opener Bebe Rexha. Fans sang along, many not missing a single word, even though technical difficulties left the crowd begging for Nick’s vocals throughout.  

When the trio made its entrance, donning monocolor suits, the audience greeted them with ear-piercing screams. 

The brothers kicked off with back-to-back bangers “Rollercoaster,” “S.O.S.,” “Cool” and “Only Human” before Joe welcomed everyone to the show.

“We haven’t played here in some time, I think about six some years. And we thought, we had to show up for Buffalo, Buffalo always shows up for us,” Joe said. “Let’s keep this party rolling, shall we?”

The party didn’t stop, with Joe and Nick deciding to ditch their suit jackets for the affair –– Joe returning in a t-shirt and Nick in a sleeveless, satin button-down.

Although older, they performed with the same spunk as their teenage selves, dancing and running around stage, working through the aisles to perform in the middle of the arena.

They then reminded the audience of their –– legal –– age when they took a shot during their set.

“We’re feeling pretty good, we won a VMA last night,” Joe said, referencing their award for best pop video. “So Buffalo, this is to you.”

Nick and Joe each got a turn to showcase their solo work, with Nick performing megahit “Jealous” and Joe showing off his band DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean” which featured waving car-dealership inflatables and cannons full of confetti.

The brothers took a break, returned in white suits and slowed things down, getting a bit sentimental. 

“If you told me two years ago we’d be doing this, I’d tell you you’re crazy,” Kevin said. “Thank you for believing in us.”

Kevin played piano for “Comeback” before switching places with Nick for 2007 tear-jerker “When You Look Me in the Eyes.”

With audience picks, “Camp Rock” hits and a mashup of “Mandy,” “Paranoid,” “Got Me Going Crazy” and “Play My Music,” the crowd’s energy lasted throughout the whole night.

Halfway through the second act –– and after roughly four microphone changes –– Nick was ready to melt everyone’s hearts.

“Turns out they finally got a mic that works for me,” Nick joked. “Let’s do this.”

And in that moment, Nick Jonas stole your wife, your girlfriend and the rest of your family before setting off literal fireworks during “Lovebug.”

They ended with “Year 3000” but the crowd wasn’t ready to let them go.

The Brothers Jonas reappeared, accompanied by flames. The audience was already burnin’ up, before the JoBros even sang the 2008 summer bop.

And just before their finale of “Sucker,” their massive Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 comeback single, Nick made a promise that fans will have a hard time forgetting. 

“Buffalo we love you,” Nick said. “We can’t wait to come back.”

Jacklyn Walters is the managing editor and can be reached at jacklyn.walters@ubspectrum.com and on Twitter @JacklynAWalters.

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