[Concert Review] AJ Rafael's 'Take Me Back' Tour in Phoenix: A Nostalgic Night to Remember
Aj Rafael in phoenix! Taking it back to 2008. I grew up listening to AJ back in 2008 on the bus using my portable CD player listening to songs like âI just want youâ âStarlit nightsâ and âMy Soldierâ accompanied by All American Rejects and Ne-yo haha. Back then all we had was the radio and MTV to get songs but when I stumbled upon AJ for the first time I knew I had to look at more of his songs and buy a ukulele lol. Fast forward to 2024 and I canât believe it, finally seeing one of my childhood artists who I blasted his songs to on car rides to even using his songs for videos projects for High school, finally seeing him live is unreal. Like AJ said, we're growing up and many of us are starting families, in college and everything in between. It was nice to take it back to his songs that carried me through middle school all the way to today.
He started off with many fan favorites like When we say (Juicebox) and starlit nights which of course everyone sang along to. He then started to talk about the meaning of this tour which had everyoneâs attention and feeling nostalgic.
What surprised me was that he always put the other artist in the spotlight and showed their music: a local artist AJ Odneal, Andrew Rhim, Nieman and even his wife Alyssa Rafael. This was such a fun yet intimate concert. The feeling of belonging or meeting a friend from a long time ago. It felt comfortable and just fun.
As the concert went on he had some side comments saying that heâs still the Kuya that we all grew up to and not a Tito which would later come back in the night when someone yelled out Tito to AJ which he then jokingly called security to take the concert goer out for calling him Tito.
Some key moments that I was in awe was when he brought out his wife to do a song that they sang at their wedding. Really felt the love while listening to it. They ended their duet with a disney medley which of course had everyone sing along to as well.
The fun thing about this concert was how deep of a connection we have with AJ and knowing him from his Youtube days to now. Seeing his Disney medleys or his âJamuarys Sessionsâ and playing all the songs we grew up to and basically making it a karaoke night. Canât say it enough but it was an amazing night.
As we sang our hearts out to his songs on his Red Roses album (which I have a physical copy of) he brought out a ukulele and signed it and gave it to a lucky fan in the crowd. He even came to our side of the stage and saw our photos and signed them.
As the night was coming to an end, he wanted to call someone to the stage to sing one of his most loved songs âShe was mineâ he called up someone from the middle of the room and brought him up. He introduced himself and AJ mentioned that the one he called up even made a cover not too long ago to his song. AJ asked what his name was and he said âJPâ and the crowd was laughing as it was a common name for Filipinos and said âWhat does it mean?â JP said âJohn Paulâ AJ and the crowd laughed and started singing. This was such a blur they started singing and all of a sudden AJ used my phone to take a video singing and showing the hyped crowd. Then surprisingly Alyssa came over to our side and took my phone as well and got everyone on stage to wave and sing to the camera.
This concert was something that my childhood self would never think of attending but now it finally happened and I will never forget it. Although I wish I emailed them so I could have taken photos for the night. Nevertheless, this was one of the best concerts Iâve attended this year and will never forget. Thank you AJ, Alyssa, Andrew, Nieman, local AJ and everyone who made this happen! Take me back tour in Phoenix was a night to remember.
