Jonas Brothers ready and waiting to kick off 2010 tour tonight for Chicagoland audiences.
Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas are still young, but they're old hands at playing venues.
So when Kevin and his younger sibs greeted reporters Thursday at the House of Blues, he noted how they might just be the first act "to ever be standing on a House of Blues stage so early in the morning."
The pop trio were in town to launch their three-continent "Live in Concert" summer tour, which kicks offs at 7 p.m. tonight at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Ill.
The Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling brothers band are sharing the tour with fellow Disney Channel singer-star Demi Lovato. Yes, Joe's ex-girlfriend.
Coincidentally, they'll be joined on tour by several castmates from the Disney Channel film, "Disney Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam." Talk about multiple cross-branding.
As Lovato tactfully hinted, things are changing for Jonas Brothers as they grow as musical artists and expand their talents.
"I've known them since I was 14 and I began performing with them at age 15," said Lovato, who turns 18 on Aug. 20.
"And even I can't believe how fast everything changes. I mean, Kevin just got married."
Kevin, 22, who proudly sports a wedding band, married Danielle Deleasa in December. Middle brother Joe, who turns 21 on Aug. 15, likes acting. He plays Will Moretti, son of actress Valerie Bertinelli's character on TV Land's new series "Hot in Cleveland." Betty White stars.
"I actually just shot this first episode for my character a month ago," Joe said.
"It airs this Wednesday [Aug. 11] and maybe I'll get to be in another one or two or three episodes if I'm lucky. The cast is amazing. I didn't know a lot about it when I was approached, but after I watched some episodes online, I fell in love with the series. And to see Betty White on the set knitting and then getting into her zone, is a lot of fun."
To hype their Chicagoland visit, the New Jersey brothers played a game of softball Friday at the 6,500-seat Silver Cross Field in Joliet, home of the Joliet Jackhammers.
"I started our team last year and we call ourselves the Road Dogs," said youngest brother Nick, 18 next month.
"I play third base. Kevin is pitcher and Joe is outfielder. We're doing our best, but we're 6 and 11 right now."
Nick, who says he misses his dog Elvis while out on tour, just finished a stage run in London last month playing Marius in "Les Miz."
For their new tour, fans can expect both a mix of new and old songs and a new stage look.
"We're using a lot of video for our background in this tour and it's a new look that we think audiences will like during the performance," Kevin said.
As for sibling squabbles -- since they share so much personal and professional time together --the brothers say it's less about fighting and more about poking fun at one another.
"But it's all in fun," Kevin said. "Like last night, it was Joe and I kidding around with Nick while we were eating at the Steak 'n Shake in Peoria and he spilled his milkshake."
The good-natured brothers say they don't mind being compared to Hanson, their '90s predecessor brother band.
"The Hanson Brothers even came to one of our tours about two years ago to see us perform, which was cool," Kevin said.
As for similarities in style and music, the Jonas Brothers don't see any connection.
"They happen to also be brothers and they play music," Joe said.
"That's about it for the similarities."
