In 2023, American indie pop trio AJR maintained a consistent live presence across the globe, blending standalone headline shows, high-profile festival appearances, and support slots on major international tours. A significant portion of their 2023 schedule was dedicated to opening for Imagine Dragons on the final leg of the Mercury World Tour, bringing AJR to massive arenas and stadiums across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
In addition to their Mercury World Tour appearances, AJR headlined a series of special performances in the United States, including shows at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Tropicana Field in Florida. They also played at major North American festivals such as Beale Street Music Festival, Hangout Music Fest, and Musikfest.
In early July 2023, the band experienced the loss of their father, Gary Metzger, who had long been a personal and professional inspiration for the brothers. The news led to the cancellation of several scheduled appearances, including their headlining performance at Summerfest in Milwaukee, NBA Con in Las Vegas, and Roc the Lake in Canandaigua, New York. The band publicly acknowledged the loss and took time away from touring to grieve and support family. The moment deeply resonated with fans and would later influence the themes of their next album, The Maybe Man.
Despite these challenges, AJR made festival stops in Asia (including the Seoul Jazz Festival), Europe (with a set at Lollapalooza Berlin), and wrapped up the year with performances at KIIS-FM's Jingle Ball in Los Angeles and Y100's Jingle Ball in Florida. These appearances gave fans early previews of new material and showcased the band's evolving stage production as they geared up for their 2024âÂÂ2025 tour cycle.
Their 2023 setlists included fan favorites like "Bang!", "Bummerland", "World's Smallest Violin", and "Sober Up", alongside deeper cuts and remixes, affirming AJRâÂÂs reputation for dynamic, multimedia-rich live shows.
Some of these performances were part of the Mercury World Tour, where AJR served as an opening act for Imagine Dragons.