Photos: Abigail McNatt
Review: Chris “Oberrated” Ober
Let’s talk about rock duo Aly & AJ. You know? The rock duo that only owned the early 2000s with their album Into the Rush with chart-opping singles like “Rush” and “Chemicals React.” Yeah, them. Well, on October 14, 2025, Aly & AJ brought their “Silver Deliverer” tour to Pittsburgh’s Stage AE for what was set to be a magnificent night filled with not only some of the music that we grew up with, but also some absolute gems of new music from the power duo.
Along for the ride with Aly & AJ for the “Silver Deliverer” tour is Miss Amanda Shires. Once she took the stage, she made her presence known. Accompanied by her band consisting of a pianist and guitarist donning all black get ups, the murdered-out look quickly proved fitting once Amanda’s Americana laden power vocals began to echo throughout the venue. For me, it was equal parts haunting and mesmerizing. Amanda’s voice has such range and is so powerful. She would be performing throughout the night with her arms outstretched as if she was summoning said power then delivering the most impressive of notes. In some ways, her voice heavily reminds me of the cadence of Dolly Parton. It’s as if Dolly Parton collided with Johnny Cash, bringing us Amanda Shires in all her glory. It was a wonderful set filled with power, beautiful instrumentalist breaks, and peaks into the vastness that are the stories and experiences Amanda wishes to tell through her music.
After Miss Shires and the usual set up time in between sets, suddenly the screen behind the stage lit up and there was the power duo themselves being live streamed to the screen as they hyped themselves up to make their grand entrance. A mere couple of rooms away from a raucous crowd eagerly awaiting to see the two stars. Once they stepped on stage, the expected roar of the crowd took over the room as they began performing “Take Your Time” from their latest album Silver Deliverer. From here on would become a blend of the older hits the crowd knew and loved mixed with the very best of their newest music, showcasing the incredible growth these two have had as not only artists but as humans as well.
Throughout the night, the crowd would erupt at different times. Of course, one of the loudest was once they appeared on stage, but another standout moment was as the opening to “Chemicals React” began, the crowd went absolutely crazy. Another wonderful moment was bringing Amanda Shires back out for two songs to which her vocals and violin brought “Blue Dress” and “Lasso” to a completely different level. Talk about a powerhouse trio!
Among these great moments and surges of energy, a quieter but equally important one was Aly & AJ leading into their song “Sirens,” a piece that is a call to action for gun safety. Aly bravely recounted the events that inspired the song, where she, AJ, and their band were caught in the crossfire of a shooting in California back in 2022. Afterwards, the band would call the crowd to action to partner up with the organization, Everytown, which champions gun safety. While it may not have been a “Chemicals React” or “Potential Breakup Song” moment, the applause that followed was one of solidarity and support for their stance.
After their call to action, we were on the home stretch of a night no one wanted to end. Aly & AJ continued their run of performing some of the most recognizable songs in their catalog, with every voice in the venue singing along with the duo. They also sprinkled in a few of their personal favorites from their newest albums, which the crowd embraced just as enthusiastically. All of this to lead into their encore for, yes, you could’ve guessed, “Potential Breakup Song.” As if you needed any verification of this, there wasn’t a single still body nor a silent voice once Aly & AJ’s biggest hit began playing before all their adoring fans. The breakup anthem transported everyone back to their bedrooms circa the 2000s, singing and dancing as if no one was watching. It was absolutely electrifying.
It’s safe to say Aly & AJ have never lost a single step over their 20+ year career in music. No matter the length or time off they’ve taken, the two women can jam with the best of them, demand attention while on stage through their tremendous musicality, and have an entire room jumping and singing in euphoria. It didn’t matter if it was the newer music from Silver Deliverer or the older ones from Into The Rush, the crowd was in it. On top of that, can we revisit Aly & AJ’s harmonies and voices in general? My word, these women can sing! They have absolutely perfect harmonies where the two of them can practically be mistaken as one beautiful voice. I was floored.
While we can debate about the relevancy of Aly & AJ’s impact all day, I will stand by the fact that their music is a corner piece in not only mine but many people’s memories while growing up. During the show, some songs would start and I caught myself singing along like my brain was an activated sleeper agent. I didn’t even realize that I’d known so many songs from their first albums. But no matter the debates or why people showed up, whether for nostalgia, fandom, or just the vibes, one thing is certain: the growth Aly & AJ have experienced from the early 2000s to today is something to idolize. They’ve grown as humans, as musicians, and as souls. With the talent they possess, they should be far bigger than they are, but hey, we’ll keep them as our best kept (not-so-secret) secret.
