Owl City released his third studio album, All Things Bright and Beautiful on June 14, 2011. In March 2011, Owl City announced the All Things Bright and Beautiful World Tour.[1] Tickets went on sale for the North American leg of the tour in late March and early April.[2] Tickets went on sale in New Zealand and Australia, the UK and Europe and Asia in May 2011.[3] The North American leg of the tour began in June to July 2011 with supporting acts from Unwed Sailor and Mat Kearney.[1] The first leg of the tour hit 29 cities in North America, including two festival appearances.[4]
The second leg of the tour took place in New Zealand and Australia in August 2011 with New Empire joining as the opening act.[5] Owl City toured across Europe from September to October 2011 in the third leg of the tour.[6] The leg featured opening acts from Unicorn Kid, Long Lost Sun and Owl City's touring keyboardist, Breanne Düren.[7] A fourth leg commenced in Asia in October 2011. Düren also opened for Owl City during the leg of the tour.[7] Owl City returned to the United States for the fifth and final leg of the tour from October to November 2011.[8]
Reception
Critical response
The All Things Bright and Beautiful Tour was met with positive feedback from critics. Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout gave a positive review with the show at Uptown Theater. He wrote, "Owl City always puts on a good show. A lot of people pass on his music just due to the poppy nature, and assume that a live show would be just a bunch of recorded loops while he sings with an autotuner... Young always has a full band with him, and they always arrange the songs in unique ways, so they don't always sound exactly like they do on the album."[9] Fryberger praised the live band for their "creative and artistic set," as well as calling Mat Kearney and Unwed Sailor a good fit as an opener for Owl City.[9] For the concert at the Mann, Jamie Ellis of Philly Burbs also gave a positive feedback. He stated, "Although both artists played songs that sounded extremely similar to one another, they proved to be incredibly talented musicians. With fantastic stage presence and charisma, Mat Kearney and Owl City both impressed the audience."[10]
Owl City performing at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., in November 2011
Matthew Kivel of Variety wrote on the Club Nokia concert noting, "Owl City's hyper-digitized brand of emotional rock music seemed perfectly suited for the setting, but the show's high production values and complex lighting schemes came off as a bit overblown in the limited environs." He complimented Owl City's live drummer Casey Brown for his ability on "matching the nuanced electronic beats with a forceful, highly syncopated full drum treatment."[11]The Denver Post gave a positive review for the Fillmore Auditorium concert writing, "Young and his seasoned backing band gave the notably youthful fan base a heavy dose of production value and virtuosity. Flanked by an electric forest of synthesizers, drum machines, swarming lights, and an excitable string duo, the band zipped through an ambitious set list of old and new 'faith-tronica.'"[12] Ian Gelling of Brum Live! gave a mixed review with the show at O2 Birmingham Academy. He felt that "the set lacked variation" and that "it was hard to tell if the crowd were embraced or just really bored." He also added that the crowd didn't interact up until "Fireflies" was performed during the set. However, he praised Young's optimism that made up for the concert.[13]
A recording of the All Things Bright and Beautiful Tour was filmed during Owl City's July 21, 2011 show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, United States. The DVD includes footage of live performances of the concert, behind the scenes footage and exclusive interviews.[1] Young stated that it was his manager who came up with the idea to film the concert.[14] The DVD peaked at number 29 on the US Top Music Videos Chart.[15] It also reached number 33 on the UK Music Video Charts.[16]
This set list is representative of the performance on July 21, 2011, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, United States. It does not represent the set list at all concerts for the duration of the tour.[17]
