I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: August 9, 2026] AJR / Ryley Tate / David Wimbish and the Collection

Three years ago I saw AJR at this very festival.  I vaguely knew them and thought they would be a really fun show (it was).  But it was also massively popular.  The show it self was fun, but not in any way that I imagined.  I was assuming there’d be a huge production–lots of videos or costumes or something goofy.  But it was exactly the opposite.  Extremely minimalist.  Adam was on bass on my right.  Jack was singing in the middle and Ryan was on my left with his keys and samples.  Behind them was a drummer Chris and a trumpeter Arnetta.  And that was it.  The real action was Jack scampering around the stage and dancing and jumping and being generally wild and fun.

But once was enough.  And I realized I hadn’t heard them in quite some time–not on the radio and no word of a new album (they put a new album out in 2023, but I guess not in time for this show?)  So I didn’t even consider getting a ticket.

And now that  I’ve seen who their opening acts were, I’m even more glad.

Which is a terrible thing to say, especially about bands I don’t know but this cute boy sounds terrible–I mean, The Voice?  Gross.

Ryley Tate Wilson is an indie-pop singer-songwriter and producer from Montgomery, Alabama. Rising to national prominence as a finalist on season 23 of NBC’s “The Voice” under Coach Niall Horan, he is known for his blend of Southern storytelling and pop production.

David Wimbish and the Collection return with Heavy Love, the warm, bracingly honest new album eritten and recorded largely in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

I mean, it may be terrific but it sure sounds like a bummer.

For fun, here’s what they played 3 years ago and what they played this year

1. Bummerland                                            Bummerland   [1]
2. 3 O’Clock Things                                      Sober Up         [4]
3. I’ve Got No Strings Remix                      Way Less Sad [5]
4. Sober Up                                                 Karma              [12]
5. Way Less Sad                                             Bang!              [15]
6. The Dumb Song                                         The Good Part [14]
7. Ordinaryish People                                   Stacy’s Mom  [–]
8. All Star (Smash Mouth cover)               Ordinaryish People  [7]
9. 100 Bad Days                                             Yes I’m a Mess [–]
10. World’s Smallest Violin                           Inertia               [–]
11. I Won’t                                                        World’s Smallest Violin [10]
12. Karma                                                         Steve’s Going to London [–]
13. Burn the House Down                            Burn the House Down [13]
14. The Good Part                                            100 Bad Days [9]
15. Bang!                                                          Weak [16]
    Encore
16. Weak