Jonas Brothers bring throwback hits, Cleveland love and an MGK call to Rocket Arena

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Jonas Brothers brought Rocket Arena back to 2008 on Monday night, and the nearly sold-out crowd knew exactly what to do: scream, sing and repeat.Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas returned to Cleveland on Oct. 19 for “The Burning Up Tour: All Over Again,” revisiting the tour that supported their third album, “A Little Bit Longer.” Even though it’s been nearly two decades since the career-changing tour for the band, the fans in Cleveland belting out every word proved that the songs haven’t spent much time collecting dust.But the nostalgia trip also had a distinctly Cleveland side. Joe spent time on NFL Sunday, during a Browns home-game win no less, dining at Whistle Taproom downtown before stopping by My Cuzin Vintage in Gordon Square to shop. During the show, an onstage FaceTime call to MGK continued to demonstrate how the band found deeper connections to its Greater Cleveland fanbase.The 51-concert North American tour builds an entire production around that nostalgia, with a three-level stage, a full backing band and enough flames to make good on the tour’s name. But the most consistent special effect was the deafening roar from the audience that has become the norm at any Jonas Brothers show.The brothers were just at Rocket Arena in November 2025 for their “Greetings From Your Hometown” tour, which celebrated their 20-year career. Monday’s return offered a more specific trip down memory lane before catching up with the band’s present-day catalog and side projects.First came opening sets from two performers with recognizable family names. Baylee Littrell, son of Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell, leaned into a singer-songwriter approach that nodded to his time competing on “American Idol.” Magnus Ferrell, son of actor Will Ferrell, brought a mix of funk, disco and pop, dancing through an animated performance alongside his band.By the time a huge curtain dropped to reveal the Jonas Brothers and their towering stage, the crowd was more than ready for the main event.“That’s Just the Way We Roll” kicked off the first act, which used the brothers’ 2008-2009 “Burnin’ Up” tour as its blueprint. Old concert clips helped set the scene, but the fans hardly needed a refresher.Dressed in black and red, with a mix of official Jonas Brothers merchandise and homemade creations, concertgoers came prepared to participate. Signs dotted the arena, while the screens offered a constant slideshow of fans singing along. Watching the crowd became part of watching the show.The opening stretch leaned heavily into throwbacks, including “BB Good,” “Hold On” and “A Little Bit Longer.” Joe also revisited his “Camp Rock” days with renditions of “Gotta Find You” and “This Is Me,” giving fans another opportunity to exercise some very well-preserved musical memories.“Lovebug,” “Year 3000,” “When You Look Me in the Eyes” and “S.O.S.” kept the singalong going through the latter portion of the first act. The setlist favored familiar favorites over deep cuts, but the production gave those songs enough movement and variety to keep the nostalgia from feeling routine.A cello and violin filled out the first act’s arrangements, while a saxophone and trombone helped shift the sound in the second. Kevin handled lead guitar, Joe worked the microphone and tambourine, and Nick moved among guitar, keyboards and drums.Nick’s time behind the drum kit produced one of the night’s more playful moments. After “Goodnight and Goodbye,” he faced off with tour drummer Jack Lawless in a drumstick-flipping battle before continuing to play into “Video Girl.” Even though the silly side act was only the band’s second attempt on tour, Lawless had no trouble catching three sticks in a row thrown from Nick’s set.The percussion got an even bigger showcase heading into “Burnin’ Up.” Nick delivered a drum solo while Joe and Kevin played water drums, building toward a first-act finale that included an appearance from Big Rob. The brothers’ bodyguard stepped out to perform the song’s rap, as has become custom at many Jonas Brothers shows, giving the throwback set a fitting sendoff.A DJ intermission separated that trip to the late 2000s from “The After Party,” the second set celebrating the brothers’ work since reuniting in 2019, along with their individual projects.The trio returned in matching red suits with burning hearts on the front. While it wasn’t particularly subtle, it was more than appropriate to fit the vibe of the crowd and the show.“Backwards” opened the second set, and Joe quickly made the arena feel smaller by heading into the crowd to sing with a fan. For a show built around a massive stage and pyrotechnics, those close-up interactions were just as effective at getting a reaction.Another attempt to connect took a little longer. During the second act, Joe FaceTimed Machine Gun Kelly, who didn’t answer the first call.“My friends are waiting for you please call me back,” Joe joked in a video message with the crowd.MGK eventually answered and waved to the arena, receiving just as many cheers as the brothers did throughout their nearly two-hour set.The second set also made room for the brothers’ separate musical identities. Joe revisited DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean,” Nick performed “Jealous,” and Kevin joined his brothers for his solo song “Changing.”“Only Human,” “What a Man Gotta Do,” “Leave Before You Love Me” and “Sucker” rounded out the final stretch, bringing the show out of its 2008 time capsule without losing the crowd along the way.Monday’s show ultimately worked because the Jonas Brothers understand the difference between repeating themselves and giving fans another reason to come back. The songs were familiar, but the full-band arrangements, playful exchanges and elaborate production kept the performance from feeling like a simple replay.Their fans will seemingly always show up ready to sing. The brothers continue to give them a show worth getting loud about.