In Real Life – TLA – Philadelphia, PA – September 13, 2018 (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)

Updated: Jun 20, 2022

In Real Life – Theatre of the Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA – September 13, 2018

In Real Life (also known as IRL) are an American boy band that had their start on the hit TV show Boy Band. Composed of Brady Tutton, Chance Perez, Drew Ramos, Sergio Calderon, and Michael Conor, the final five vocalists are natural performers and recently brought their talents to Philadelphia.

On Thursday September 13, they hit the stage at the Theater of Living Arts on South Street for a stop on their first large-scale tour. It was the guys’ first time performing in Philadelphia and they did not disappoint the fans.

The opening act JAGMAC, a pop group of siblings from Baltimore, delivered their all for the excited audience. JAGMAC captivated the audience with their upbeat dance numbers and high energy.

Before In Real Life could even get on the stage, fans were continuously chanting and cheering for the band. The boys entered the stage while an audio recording of each member’s individual audition for the television show played.

Despite their youth, the guys delivered a captivating show, with highly skilled and synchronized dance numbers – even a back flip. The boys had a natural stage presence and no trouble keeping the crowd on their toes.

The band opened with a performance of “Eyes Closed,” one of their more popular songs. They moved on to cover all-time famous boy bands from the past, like The Backstreet Boys, One Direction, and The Jonas Brothers, performing past hits like “I Want It That Way” and “Perfect.” In Real Life wanted the audience to know that these celebrated groups inspired their sound and stage presence.

While slowing down the set and playing softer songs, Sergio Calderon handled the guitar, while Michael Conor played a violin, showcasing the band’s multifaceted talents. Individual members of the band jumped off stage to interact with the roaring crowd. They ended the night with their hit song “Tonight Belongs to You,” which had the crowd jumping up and down.

Both the opener and headliner demonstrated their talents – to not only sing and harmonize as a band, but also to dance in complete synchrony and energize an entire audience. JAGMAC and In Real Life are two bands that should definitely be on your list to see.

Rachel Gelman & Hannah Rose Pittel