Review by Scout Marie

August 20th, 2026

On a rainy Thursday evening in D.C., I found myself walking amongst concert attendees adorned in cowboy boots and trucker hats. Only, we were heading to different places. As they headed down The Wharf to catch a show at The Anthem, I instead joined a smaller crowd decked out in polka dots and denim at Union Stage to watch Broadway actor Jason Schmidt take the stage for the fifth show on his Butterfly Tour. 

It was clear from the moment Jason and his band walked on stage that everyone was having the time of their lives. They spent the night dancing, singing songs to one another, even a few headbangs made it into the mix. Throughout all of this my eyes were drawn to guitarist Freddy Hall. Encouraging the crowd to join in on claps and callbacks the entire set, Hall’s energy was infectious in every way possible. That energy was matched by the rest of Schmidt’s band and then some. Their huge grins and excited interactions made it clear they love playing together. 

Schmidt himself is electric, his years of Broadway training shining through with every song. He’s a natural beneath the lights, giving everything he has to the audience. His talents extend well beyond capturing the attention of a crowd, though. Schmidt’s voice is what makes him worth seeing. I can safely say he sounds not only identical to his recorded music, I would even say he sounds better in a live setting. He is a powerhouse performer and is perfectly suited for the indie-rock sound he’s settled into over his four years of releasing music. 

Fans were treated to four unreleased songs. Set opener Amygdala, as well as Porcelain, Odyssey, and my favorite of the bunch, Gravity. This song stood out to me not only for its alluring sound, but because of the story behind it. It is a collaboration with his father about how his father spent his whole life trying to find love, but once he found Jason’s mother it felt more like falling than trying. On the way into the venue, the audience was given Gravity-inspired postcards that Schmidt encouraged to give to someone who we’d find in every lifetime, whether it be family, friend, or lover. It’s an incredibly beautiful song that clearly means a lot to him, and I’m looking forward to hearing it fully realized on its September 11th release. 

The setlist wasn’t entirely unreleased songs, though. Several fan favorites made the cut, including my personal favorite of his, 7 Stars. He also had three covers on the setlist including an amazing rendition of Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody. 

One of the most emotional moments came from the first encore song: Little Blue World. Schmidt spoke about writing the song in his college apartment, and how that version of him wouldn’t have believed it if he could see what this song had become to so many people. That moment reminded me why I love seeing smaller artists as much as I do. Yes, seeing a band in a sold-out stadium with a full production and a crowd of 70,000 people is cool, but there’s something special about the intimate space that’s created when you're crammed into a tiny room watching someone at the beginning of their career. 

Schmidt is supported on this tour by Nuala (pronounced “new-la”) Cleary and Haven Madison. Nuala’s set was short, only four songs, but it still left me wanting more. Her rich voice lends itself well to the indie-pop she makes. My favorite song of hers was Infatuation, which was released at midnight following the show. 

When Haven Madison began her performance, I was immediately reminded of Hannah Montana’s early years. Madison’s bright pop-rock vocals take center stage amidst the acoustic set. My favorite song from her was Roses. Madison spoke about how important it is to know your self-worth, and encouraged the young girls in the crowd to not settle for anyone who doesn’t also see it. “I see your soul and I think it’s beautiful, and you’re deserving of flowers every day,” she said while introducing the song. After the show she stayed to talk to every fan in the room, myself included, taking the time to chat about music and the fact that I desperately need to refresh my hair dye. 

Spending the night tucked away beneath The Wharf is something I often find myself doing. Less often I find myself a witness to the amount of talent I saw Thursday night.  Seeing artists you know will be big one day is a special thing, and I consider myself lucky to have seen three of them in one night. 

The Setlist

Amygdala*

Can’t Compare

7 Stars

My Stoner Girlfriend

Porcelain*

My Ego Loves You

Odyssey*

Growing Up

Landslide**

Gravity*

Close By

Butterfly

Use Somebody**

Hey Hailey

Gold Man

---------

Little Blue World

Birds of a Feather**

* = unreleased

** = cover