AJR: The Fandom Built on Relatability
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| AJR performing at a venue (4) |
Do you ever think that your life is a massive playlist of anxious songs in chaotic order, yet it somehow works? Most people probably already have this. In fact, they probably have a list of songs that personally speak to them from how relatable the music is. This is exactly how AJR fans would best describe their quirky blend of music.
The Click
AJR began in 2005, when brothers Adam, Ryan, and Jack Met began performing covers on the New York City streets. They gradually gained traction through YouTube and early social media while making experimental music. Their work took off after the release of their hit single, “I’m Ready,” in 2013. After this single, they produced five albums in this order: Living Room, The Click, Neotheater, OK Orchestra, and The Maybe Man. Since then, AJR has grown a widespread community, some of them home to groups like the “AJRmy.”
Living Room
The AJR fan base connects with the band on a deep emotional level. Fans from around the world come together to agree on one thing the band does better than any other: the deep understanding of a messy, anxious, strenuous, and tiring life. One fan quotes, “they make me feel like I’m not alone and they put my thoughts and feelings into words when I never could’ve” (3.) Another fan comments, “What makes me a fan of AJR is that their music is so relatable. The production and some of the weird sounds are stuff I haven’t heard in music before. They’re very different and that’s what I love about them.” (3.)
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| The final three puzzle pieces (3) |
The webpage that these quotes come from revolve around a widespread project just for AJR. Fans collaborated to create 50 intricate puzzle pieces, three of which with a link to the project named "Whatever Makes You a Fan," and hand delivered them to the brothers at different shows during The Maybe Man tour, and let AJR put together the puzzle that led to this fan-made webpage. The site also highlighted the experience of individual users during concerts, why they loved the band, and how their music made the fandom feel.
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| AJR fan art depicting the trio (1) |
Fans didn’t only create puzzle pieces with personalized webpages, they also created hundreds of fan art pieces, polls, and captioned memes of the brothers. The subreddit page for AJR was officially created on April 23rd of 2017, giving a designated area for the community to talk about the artists. While various fans created art of the trio, some fans would take their own original character and add lyrics around the art, symbolizing their inner connection to the lines of each song.
Neotheater
Aside from the active communities of the talented trio, fans trek around the country to come meet the brothers live on stage, performing some of their greatest hits in the spotlight. Fans of all demographics line up for venues and seat arrangements at these performances. Notice the use of the word “performance.” Every show, fans also await the art and backdrop to each individual song in the stadium. Crosse reaffirms this observation, quoting “something super unique about this show was the use of a giant TV behind the performers. There were props, and they created a scene for almost every song to create a very specific feeling – every set was better than the next” (2.)
Not only are fans there for the art and songs, but the band has been known to personally call out people from the stands. Some shows, they tell jokes to the audience and lightly tease a small group of fans. There are even live competitions on stage, like drawing contests.
OK Orchestra (My Experience)
I first stumbled upon this band at seven years old while on the family computer, but I never truly took in the deeper meanings of each song until I was 16. There was no reason prior to then. However, I made some bad decisions and ultimately ended up in a facility that treated my conditions. While I was being rehabilitated, I uncovered some of the newer songs and gave them a quick listen. Not only was the music unique, but the lyrics gave way to my interpretation of their music: life is stressful, life can make you a nervous wreck and throw you in the deep end, but we have to make the most of it. It became not only my favorite band, but my comfort music as a reassurance that everyone has bad days, and it’s all a part of this experience we call being human. In fact, I would sing "Yes, I'm a Mess" by them every single day. I’ve since made it my mission to scour the internet every month to see any nearby concerts, new merchandise, and new music.
1. Arianna. AJR Angels. (2023). Artstation, https://www.artstation.com/artwork/w0PkNV Accessed 02 December 2025.
2. Crosse, M. L. (2019). AJR: A Concert Experience Like No Other. The Cardinal Chronicle. https://mhscardinalchronicle.com/2399/arts-and-entertainment/ajr-a-concert-experience-like-no-other/#
3. Fans of AJR. (2025). Fansofajr. https://fansofajr.com/bio/
4. Jroth304. Concert Photo. (2019). Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/AJR/comments/g6pxzs/shot_from_the_archives_at_the_dc_neotheater_tour/ Accessed 02 December 2025
5. Veltman, C. (2024, August 17). How one pop band is trying to turn concertgoers into climate activists. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/08/15/nx-s1-5061571/ajr-music-climate
6. WildB. (2025, August 9). AJR - crowd interaction during Alpharetta, GA show 8/4/25. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENY7Wby60ik
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