There’s something about seeing a band like the All-American Rejects in a place like Grand Casino Arena that hits differently. Maybe it’s the nostalgia—those early-2000s memories of burned CDs, warped truck-stop headphones, and the wild emotional swings of being sixteen. Maybe it’s that the band themselves still play like they’re fueled by equal parts sarcasm, sugar, and a soft spot for melodrama. But mostly, it’s because the Rejects remain one of those rare bands that can turn a simple night out into a full-blown reminder of who you used to be, who you are right now, and why loud guitars are still therapeutic.
The crowd knew this one was going to be big the moment the lights dimmed. The arena was filled with that restless shuffle unique to fans who absolutely know every song on the setlist but are still jittery in the best possible way. Grand Casino Arena tends to draw a fun cross-section—millennial lifers, younger kids discovering the band for the first time, and plenty of people who realized “Gives You Hell” is still a top-tier angsty sing-along. It felt like the perfect setup for a night that blended throwback energy with the tight, confident punch of a band that’s been at this for over twenty years.
The Performance
The band launched straight into “Swing, Swing,” a move that felt like throwing open a time capsule. Tyson Ritter came out loose, grinning, moving with that lanky rock-star glide he’s perfected over two decades. His voice still carries that slightly dramatic, pleading tone that makes these songs so distinct. And starting the show with a track that instantly lights up the nostalgia centers of the brain meant the arena went from zero to all-out scream-along in seconds.
From there, they kept the tempo high with “Dirty Little Secret,” and honestly, this one might have been the loudest the crowd got all night. You could feel the floor shake from everyone stomping and yelling the chorus like it was still 2005 and we all had something petty to confess. Nick Wheeler’s guitar work was sharp and bright, cutting through the room with that classic pop-punk shimmer. The band sounded alive—tight but not stiff, polished but still playful.
“I Wanna” followed, bringing the flirtier, slightly snarkier side of the Rejects into the mix. Ritter leaned into the theatrics here, throwing sly side-eyes and over-the-top poses. It was campy in the best possible way. The band gave the song a bit more muscle than the studio version, making it feel like a modern reinterpretation rather than a pure recreation.
“Sweat” and “Close Your Eyes” rounded out the early portion of the set, giving the room a chance to catch its breath without losing momentum. “Sweat” had a gritty stomp that translated incredibly well live—an underrated entry in their catalog that deserves more attention. “Close Your Eyes,” meanwhile, delivered one of the night’s more surprisingly emotional moments. Tyson’s voice cracked just slightly in a way that felt real, like he was channeling something personal rather than just performing on autopilot.
The real tonal shift came with “It Ends Tonight.” Every concert has that one collective exhale, and this one hit hard. Ritter didn’t over-sing it; instead, he let the song simmer, stretch, and unfurl. The lighting—dark blue washes, long shadows—made the whole thing feel cinematic. For a few minutes, the entire arena just floated. Whether you loved someone, lost someone, or just needed a moment to close your eyes and drift, this was the song that let everyone reset emotionally.
After the heaviness, Ritter took a beat to joke with the crowd, then moved into “Easy Come, Easy Go,” his solo track that fits seamlessly into the Rejects’ world. It had a warm, intimate vibe—almost like a fireside performance transplanted into a big room. You could tell it meant something for him to include it; the crowd responded with genuine interest instead of the usual “play the hits” impatience.
And then came the slam dunk: “Move Along.”
This song is lightning in a bottle live. The drums kicked in like a heartbeat, the guitars came roaring, and suddenly everyone was bouncing, shouting, smiling—just unfiltered release. It’s one of those rare songs that feels just as electric today as it did when it first dropped. Ritter didn’t even need to sing half the chorus; the crowd handled it for him, practically drowning out the band. The arena glowed with a kind of communal joy you only get when a band absolutely nails their signature anthem.
Finally, they closed with “Gives You Hell,” the perfect exclamation point to the night. It’s big, bratty, cathartic, catchy as hell (pun unavoidable), and the crowd loved every second. Ritter strutted across the stage like the world’s most chaotic motivational speaker, pointing to sections of the arena and letting the fans scream the lines back at him. There was genuine humor in the performance, but also a celebratory punch—like a final group shout to release whatever frustration everyone brought in with them.
Sound, Atmosphere, and Energy
Sonically, the Rejects came prepared. The mix was crisp—heavy bass without drowning the vocals, guitars that cut through without becoming abrasive. The Grand Casino Arena isn’t always perfect acoustically, but tonight it felt dialed in. The band has matured in how they handle their live sound; they no longer rely on sheer volume to carry them. Instead, they’ve learned how to build dynamics, letting songs breathe before crashing back in.
The lighting design deserves credit too. Nothing overly flashy, but everything felt purposeful. Warm reds and golds for the upbeat tracks, cool blues and purples for the slower, broodier numbers. It created mood without overshadowing the performance.
Ritter has always been a charismatic frontman, but he’s grown into a performer who knows exactly how to balance humor, swagger, and emotional weight. He bantered with the crowd often, poking fun at himself, the band, and even the venue at one point (“I swear casinos keep getting nicer every time we come back—either that or I just keep getting older”). The jokes landed, but so did the more sincere moments when he paused to talk about the band’s longevity and the fans who’ve stuck with them.
The rest of the band—Wheeler, Gaylor, and Kennerty—played with the controlled energy of seasoned pros. No one tried to steal the spotlight, but each of them had standout moments: a shimmering guitar break here, a punchy bassline there, a drum fill that snapped the room back to attention.
The Setlist
All-American Rejects – Grand Casino Arena – 2025
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Swing, Swing
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Dirty Little Secret
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I Wanna
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Sweat
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Close Your Eyes
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It Ends Tonight
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Easy Come, Easy Go (Tyson Ritter song)
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Move Along
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Gives You Hell
Final Thoughts
The All-American Rejects are one of those bands that people sometimes underestimate until they’re standing in a venue, shouting every word, and remembering why these songs mattered so much. This show at Grand Casino Arena wasn’t just a nostalgia trip—it was a reminder that the band still has the chops, the charisma, and the catalog to deliver a killer night out.
They played like a group still in love with their own songs, still hungry, still having fun. And the crowd fed off that energy from start to finish. Whether you were there for the old hits, the newer tracks, or just the chance to scream-sing your stress away, the Rejects gave you exactly what you wanted.
By the end of “Gives You Hell,” people weren’t just clapping—they were glowing. It was one of those nights where you leave the building lighter than you walked in. A little sweaty, a little hoarse, and very, very satisfied.
Grade: A