30 Seconds to Mars front-man Jared Leto opened his set with “Up in the Air,” prior to breaking into the rebellious vocals “Conquistador” and “This is War.” “C’mon Jones Beach. Show me what you’ve got,” he said, and the venue’s reception was enormous. They obeyed Leto’s commands as if he were an army general.
“In case you didn’t know, we are 30 Seconds to Mars,” Leto said, and that was met with a raucous response. “Where are all those people who are seeing us for the first time? I just have one thing to say to you: What the fuck took you so long!”
Jared Leto took some time to pay a moving homage to the late Linkin Park front-man Chester Bennington. “It has been a really tough few days,” he admitted. “We said goodbye to somebody who was an amazing artist and human being. Somebody who I know touched everybody in this amphitheater. Chester Bennington. Make some noise for Chester,” he added, prior to sharing that he taught him a lot about life.
Leto praised him for his face (which was always smiling), his huge heart and the kindness he exhibited towards his band (30 Seconds to Mars), and being a true family man. “He had six incredible children as well,” Leto said. “That voice will live forever,” he added, and dedicated the song “Alibi,” in a delicate, husky acoustic performance, where Leto’s voice captivated the entire venue. Following “Alibi,” which he incorporated as a crowd sing-along, there was not a single dry eye in Jones Beach Theater.
The highlight performance of the night was his empowering rendition of “City of Angels,” where he showcased his tremendous stage presence and wide vocal range, in a song that many audience members can relate to. “I can’t hear you Jones Beach,” he said, initially, but that changed immediately, and he managed to get the fans to put their hands up in the air, and sing along with him.
“Do or Die” was a great deal of fun, as he swung the American flag, with purple lights dimming from the stage. “Make some noise,” Leto yelled. He closed his set with “The Ocean” and the crowd favorite “Closer to the Edge,” where many audience members joined him onstage.
The Verdict
Overall, 30 Seconds to Mars was awesome at Jones Beach Theater on Long Island. They never disappoint. Along with Muse and PVRIS, they put on a top-notch rock concert that fans will be talking about for quite a while. Despite his slightly eccentric personality, Jared Leto’s voice pierces through your skin and sends tingles down to your spine. He is one captivating performer, and his entire band (30 Seconds to Mars) with Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic rocked as a whole. Leto’s tribute to Chester Bennington was heartfelt and sincere. Their live show garnered an A+ rating.
