The All-American Rejects Transport San Diegans Back to the 2000s at The Sound
The Sound in Del Mar was buzzing in that very specific way it only does before a good rock show — equal parts nostalgia, excitement, and people already arguing about where to stand. Presented by ALT 94.9, The All-American Rejects rolled into town with Out in Front and Joyce Manor, and from the jump it felt like one of those nights where everyone came ready to sing, sweat, and forget about their week for a couple hours.
Out in Front kicked things off with the kind of energy you want from an opener: loud, fun, and clearly just stoked to be there. Their set warmed the crowd up fast, pulling people in from the bar and giving early arrivals a reason to stop scrolling and start paying attention, especially with a cover of “Sugar, We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy. There was no overthinking it — just solid songs, big smiles, and a sense that they were soaking up every second on that stage, opening for their childhood heroes.
Joyce Manor’s set carried a little extra weight, especially for a Southern California crowd that’s watched the band grow from backyard shows to beloved scene staples. Formed in Torrance in the late 2000s, Joyce Manor has always thrived on raw honesty and brevity — short songs that hit hard, say what they need to say, and get out. That DIY spirit was alive and well at The Sound, with the band ripping through fan favorites like “Constant Headache” and “Catalina Fight Song,” both of which sparked immediate movement in the crowd. There was no flashy production or over-the-top banter, just tight guitars, shouted lyrics, and that familiar feeling of controlled chaos.
Once The All-American Rejects settled into their set, it felt like the entire room collectively time-traveled — but in a way that somehow didn’t feel stuck in the past. They kicked things off with “Dirty Little Secret,” and the reaction was immediate: everyone suddenly remembering every word like it was the 2000s. From there, the band moved effortlessly through deeper cuts like “Fast and Slow” and “My Paper Heart,”which hit especially hard for longtime fans who’ve been riding with the band since the early days.
As the night rolled on, songs like “Swing, Swing” and “Move Along” unsurprisingly had the crowd in rapture, with Tyson Ritter stepping back from the mic more than once just to let the crowd take over. Ritter also mentioned that he was feeling under the weather, but still proceeded to sound fantastic. One of the more special moments came with the live debut of “Get This,” which landed like a surprise gift for the fans paying close attention to the band’s new songs after a long hiatus. They also slipped in “Easy Come, Easy Go,” a Tyson Ritter song that gave the set a personal, family-affair feel before launching back into the high-energy chaos.
By the time they closed things out with “Gives You Hell”, it was clear that The All-American Rejects still knew exactly how to put on a show that feels fun, familiar, and genuinely alive.
