AJR Rocks Stir Cove

September 1, 2026 – Stir Cove – Council Bluffs, IA

Tuesday night, September 1, 2026, was another hot one in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but it was well worth the heat to experience the greatness of AJR again.

This marked my fifth time seeing them live, and somehow they continue to bring their best every single time. Stir Cove has been on fire this summer with its concert lineup, and this was another one of those nights that reminded me why it’s such a great place to see a show.

The night kicked off with Arden Jones.

Jones is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He grew up in a musical household and taught himself how to play several instruments, including piano and guitar.

His career really started taking off in 2021 after his debut single, “Parallel Parking,” went viral on TikTok and Spotify. The success of that song eventually led him to move to Los Angeles and focus on music full time. He later signed with Atlantic Records and continued releasing songs like “Roll the Dice” and “Rollercoaster.”

In 2022, Jones took an interesting approach to releasing music when he began putting out a new “age tape” EP every month. He’s continued building his audience ever since, collaborating with other artists and spending more time on the road.

In 2026, his song “think you’re someone new” with producer Ian Asher became one of his biggest releases, picking up tens of millions of streams. He also expanded his touring schedule throughout the year and released his debut album, FLASH, just a few days before this show.

His set at Stir Cove didn’t get off to the smoothest start behind the scenes. There were a few technical issues, and shortly before he came onstage, a small fire broke out at the lighting board behind the stage. Thankfully, everything was handled, and Jones didn’t let any of it affect his performance.

He looked and sounded great. He kept his composure and delivered a strong set while the crowd danced and cheered along. You’d never know there had been any issues leading up to it.

It was a great way to open the show.

After a brief intermission, the sun had gone down and it was finally time for AJR.

AJR is made up of brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met, who started performing together in New York City when they were kids. Their early days included busking in parks, tap dancing, and posting covers online before eventually gaining attention with their breakout single “I’m Ready.”

That song helped introduce the world to a band that’s always done things a little differently.

Over the years, AJR has released albums including Living Room, The Click, Neotheater, OK Orchestra, and The Maybe Man. Their catalog includes major hits like “Weak,” “Sober Up,” “Burn the House Down,” “100 Bad Days,” “Bang!,” “Way Less Sad,” and “World’s Smallest Violin.”

“Bang!” became one of their biggest songs, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and winning Top Rock Song at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. The band has also earned multiple platinum certifications and grown from playing small shows to headlining arenas and amphitheaters around the country.

That growth is pretty incredible when you think about where they started.

Even though Adam wasn’t there for this show, Ryan and Jack still delivered a powerful set filled with the songs fans came to hear.

What I’ve always loved about AJR is their energy. They genuinely look like they’re having fun onstage, and that feeling spreads through the entire crowd. There’s something about their shows that feels loose and spontaneous even though you know there’s an incredible amount of planning happening behind the scenes.

They also don’t stay confined to the stage. At different points throughout the show, they ventured out into the crowd, which only added to the connection between the band and the fans.

The energy was infectious all night. People danced, sang along, and stayed fully engaged from beginning to end.

You could also tell how appreciative Ryan and Jack were of the turnout. At one point, they acknowledged that Benson Boone was performing just across the river in Omaha that same night and thanked everyone for choosing to spend their evening with AJR.

That got a huge response.

It was a fun moment, but it also felt genuine. AJR has always been good at making their shows feel personal, no matter how big the crowd gets.

The band currently has over 7.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and their latest live album from the Hollywood Bowl is definitely worth checking out. It captures a lot of what makes them such a great live band, but seeing them in person is still a completely different experience.

Five shows in, I’m still not tired of seeing AJR.

They continue to find ways to make each concert feel exciting, and this night at Stir Cove was no exception.

Another fantastic show at Stir Cove.

AJR Setlist: