AJR Takes the Stage and Transforms Their Hits into Unforgettable Moments of Connection and Inspiration.

May 14th, 2024

I’ve been a fan of AJR for a few years now. I first began to listen to their music because my little sisters loved their music, and I felt it was my sisterly duty to take an interest in their interests. I trudged through playing Minecraft and sitting through every episode of My Little Pony with them, so you could imagine my hesitation when they wanted to play DJ in my car one day. But, like a good big sis, I dutifully gave them the aux cable and braced for impact. But instead of being left with another bubblegum pop song that I would cringe to in a few years, I was exposed to a band that would get me through some of the most difficult times of my life.

AJR performs at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Photo by Chris Allmeid.

I took my sisters to see AJR two years ago in Tampa, and it was an amazing show. I don’t tend to see artists more than once, but AJR is worth seeing every single tour. The Maybe Man tour brought the brothers to Hollywood, Florida for the first time since they started playing in 2015. I was a little worried about seeing this at Hardrock Live because they tend to do so much with the sets, but I was not disappointed. The band dazzled the crowd with stunning scenes from outer space, comical reenactments of their childhood home, and even two songs that were sung on the second-floor balcony with the audience, me being one of the lucky ones nearby. Songs like “Bang!” and “Yes I’m a Mess” were paired with fantastic light shows, and the lead singer, Jack, even hung from the ceiling—the DJ was NOT crying for help during this performance.

I was thrilled to see the live making of one of their songs, a delectable treat for any music nerd. I’ve never seen an artist break down exactly how a song or beat was created during a performance. The band has done this during several of their tours. Last performance I went to, I was able to see how they created “Bang!.” At this concert, we were able to see where “Way Less Sad” came from. As one of my favorite songs, I was here for it. The band starts by saying they were in college and sitting in their parents’ living room trying to think of an idea for their next performance. They start to experiment with different sounds: a high hat, maybe some bass, etc. They get bored and start to watch baby videos—and that’s when an idea is formed. The beat from “Way Less Sad” was created from a mashup of baby video audio. What!?!? How creative is this? And the audience can see the creation of this on the big screen. If you love music or original thought, you cannot pass up on seeing their next performance.

AJR performs at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Photo by Chris Allmeid.

The band paid tribute to their recently passed father with their emotional song “God is Really Real.” While it might have slowed the energy in the room, we were able to feel the love and support of a father who seemed to be the band’s #1 fan. The end of the song came with a message, especially to the younger audience members: Don’t listen to your bullies. The band told the audience of their countless bullies, fights, and moments in the principal’s office. Though they might have been picked on for their “weird” music and relaxed style, they pushed through and found an audience as “weird as them.” They encouraged everyone to find their tribe and continue being themselves until they found others who mirrored them.

AJR performs at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Photo by Chris Allmeid.

The concert featured all of their hits, including “World’s Smallest Violin,” which was sung in the audience and “Burn the House Down.” Their latest album also made for some incredible set changes, like “Touchy Feely Fool” and “Maybe Man.” The band concluded with “2085,” the final song on their latest album, a song that encourages the listener to experience life as much as you can because it is precious but short. I laughed, I cried, and I loved it. With each album, we see so much growth from this band. And their shows are no different. They remain unmatched in their live performances and it was an absolute honor to be able to see them again. Until the next one, cheers!