Gotta Get Up: Saint Motel's Perfect Concert
Featuring Beethoven, Engagement Boosters, and a semi-questionable Palm Sunday reference
The line was longer than I thought it would be.
In fact, if I’m being honest with you, the line was a LOT longer than I thought it would be.
Let me explain:
It was a drizzly Thursday.
It was a small, standing-room-only type venue in a quasi-rural part of Raleigh I didn’t know existed.
It was early—a few minutes before the doors were set to open.
And yet, the line wrapped around the building. Hundreds of eager fans gathered beneath angry storm clouds in anticipation of a band that I frankly had underestimated.
It turns out, the people show up for Saint Motel.
That concert was one of the most fun shows I’ve ever seen.
Everything, from the theme (yes, there was a theme to the evening) to the set design (that’s right) to the musicianship (almost every band member played multiple instruments throughout the show) to the showmanship (all I can say is: they were cool), was perfect. It was an amazing show, and I left immediately wishing I could see them play again.
But even if we strip away all of the performative aspects of the show, Saint Motel’s music is almost guaranteed to make for a great concert, because they are masters of the Engagement Booster.
An Engagement Booster is a moment in a song that gets the crowd more involved in the show.
Think of the stomp, stomp, clap from Queen’s “We Will Rock You”. You can’t help but join in as soon as you hear it.
Engagement Boosters take many forms. You’ll recognize the classic overhead-clap, perhaps initiated by the drummer during an a capella bridge. I’m sure you’ve encountered the iPhone flashlight moment during a slow, lyrical ballad. You may have even witnessed a call-and-response chorus once or twice.
In fact, the chorus itself is the most basic Engagement Booster. This is why many choruses tend to simply repeat stuff over and over: the sooner you learn the lyrics, the sooner the chorus becomes an Engagement Booster.
The problem, of course, is that this becomes quite boring. If you want the audience to stick with you for a whole show, you need to get creative with your Engagement Boosters.
And no one is more creative than Saint Motel.
1. “Uh huh uh huh”
Listen to “Van Horn” here.
I was familiar with Saint Motel’s music. It’s hard not to be, with the number of radio and commercial hits that they have.
But despite this familiarity, I found myself not knowing many of their lyrics. With most bands, this would preclude me from singing along to the songs.
So, when they opened with “Van Horn,” I thought I was going to be sidelined for a while.
But wait! What’s this? Could it be a sonic breadcrumb, sprinkled mercifully throughout the verses, that offers a small Engagement Boost for a dummy like me?
That’s right reader. Despite hearing the song for the first time, I found myself hitting almost every “uh huh uh huh uh huh” thrown my way.
2. The Stutter
Listen to “Puzzle Pieces” here.
This one’s less accessible for a first-timer, but a must-engage for a fan. Fortunately, I knew it beforehand.
I don’t how to explain it, but there is something inherently fun about the stuttered entrances to every verse and chorus. Anyone that knew the right letter was sure to belt it out.
And when the rest of the band shouts “IT’S JUST—” during the second verse, you better believe the knowledgable among the crowd joined in too.
3. “MOOOOVE”
Listen to “Move” here.
Here we have a treasure trove of Engagement Boosters.
First, they get the whole crowd clapping the opening beat. Then they establish a clear rule: when AJ Jackson (the lead singer) points to us (the crowd), we yell “MOVE!” as loud as we can.
It worked like a charm. I don’t think anyone had their mouth shut during this one.
Now, I will admit, this is a pretty basic “repeat stuff” chorus. But we were all having so much fun screaming “MOVE!” at the top of our lungs, I don’t think anyone noticed.
4. “Ba Ba Bada Ba Ba Baaaaa”
Listen to “Sweet Talk” here.
Don’t know the words to a song? No problem—how about you just sing along with the trumpet?
This song is begging for engagement. You can hear in the studio recording that the band sings along with the horn section; at the live show, this task is handled by the crowd.
Listening to the song you can imagine the packed room bouncing up and down as we shouted out the horn line with all we had.
Engagement = boosted.
5. *Insert Melody from Für Elise*
Listen to “For Elise” here.
Easy Engagement Booster: write a song about a specific name.
More Interesting Engagement Booster: write a song that riffs on one of the most iconic melodies of all time.
When good ole AJ Jackson steps up to the keyboard for a solo and breaks out Beethoven’s perennial piano go-to, the crowd goes wild.
Even if you don’t know any of the songs they’ve played so far…you probably know that one.
6. Dance Party
Listen to “My Type” here.
Some concerts are exhibitions: you’re there to watch an incredibly talented person or group do incredible impressive things.
Other concerts are dance parties.
When the iconic sax riff starts, the crowd is already fully engaged.
But then AJ makes his way into the crowd, and before you know it everyone’s bouncing, singing, and dancing in a wild frenzy as the frontman wades through every inch of the venue.
For a stunt that’s been in the Engagement Booster playbook since 33 AD, it is still going strong.
Here’s the thing: I could have kept going. I could have kept going for a long time. Because you can put Saint Motel on shuffle and hear song after song after song featuring fun, original Engagement Boosters.
I don’t know if they plan it this way, or if it’s just that their songwriting style lends itself well to a live performance. But either way, Saint Motel went from being a band that I vaguely recognized to one of my favorite shows ever and almost certainly my top artist of 2024.
So if they’re ever touring near you, be sure to grab a ticket. I know I’ll be first in line.