Aly and AJ & The Brummies – TLA – Philadelphia (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)

Aly and AJ & The Brummies – Theatre of the Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA – May 6, 2022

A Nostalgic Night to Remember

If you grew up in the early 2000's like me, hearing the names Aly & AJ brings back memories of Disney channel and "Potential Breakup Song" blasting in your mom's minivan. Well, the Disney duo is back and better than ever after a ten-year break from the spotlight. Their initial comeback started in 2017 with their EP “Ten Years.” They have since then released three albums: Ten Years, We Don't Stop, and their latest release, a touch of the beat gets you up on your feet gets you out and then into the sun.

It became clear when entering The Theater of Living Arts last Friday that Aly and AJ have grown an enormous fan base since their comeback in 2017. The house was the most packed that I have ever seen at the TLA, the audience stretching all the way back to the entrance. The hyped crowd welcomed the opening group, The Brummies, to the stage, and danced to their spacey Indie jams. Their energy set the tone for the night and left the audience even more excited to watch their childhood idols perform before their eyes.

The two musicians hit the stage following their band and the crowd went wild. They began the night with their upbeat Indie tune, "Pretty Places." My personal favorite song of the night was their modern rendition of the 2007 song "Insomniatic." The two jammed out on their electric guitars under red light while the entire crowd danced their faces off. It really brought out the rockstar side of the two musicians in contrast to their sultry, Indie sound. The demographic of the audience seemed to be those who were raised on Aly & AJ, similar to me, in their early to mid-twenties. The two played a mix of new and old tunes, so that all concert attendees knew the words to a handful – if not every – song played throughout the night.

Aly & AJ are not only lovers of music, but they are also extremely passionate about the LGBTQIA community. They paused their set to speak to their crowd, telling us to text "LOVE" to a number to win a meet and greet with the two rockstars. To win, audience members had to donate to one or both nonprofits, The Trevor Project and To Write Love on Her Arms. Their fans cheered as the two spoke about equality and acceptance of all people and the importance of mental health.

While the recorded tunes of Aly & AJ are beyond impressive, those produced hits don't hold a candle to the live performance of these talented sister duo from Torrance, CA. Their sound and technique have evolved so much since their time back in the music industry. Aly & AJ brought so much power and energy to the stage at the TLA and left everyone in pools of sweat from dancing all night. If you weren't already drenched, their final song during their encore “Potential Breakup Song” definitely got you on your feet. Whether you know Aly & AJ from Disney Channel or you're a fan of their modern sound, a night at one of their shows will be the time of your life.

Brenna Hallman