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Rejects Rock out Sunfest 2012

By: Gina Onori

The full harvest moon hung low on the West Palm Beach waterfront on Cinco de Mayo as The All-American Rejects ignited the crowd with their 2005 single, “Dirty Little Secret” at SunFest 2012. The All-American Rejects embodied pop-rock as they performed several latest and inevitable hits in skinny jeans, sleeveless shirts, and smoky eye liner.

The All-American Rejects, which includes lead singer, lyricist, and bassist Tyson Ritter, guitarist Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist Mike Kennerty and drummer Chris Gaylor, are currently on their ‘Kids In The Street’ Tour which ends on May 22 in Quebec.

“Tyson had a lot to dig through and sort out,” said guitarist Nick Wheeler. “He sacrificed some of his teenage years for touring professionally and that kind of started off the inspiration for the writing process.”

“Buena’s Noches West Palm Beach, you feeling good tonight?” said Ritter in broken Spanglish while wearing a bright yellow ripped shirt that said ‘Hard Snake’ on the back of it. As the legendary rock stars positioned themselves on the colossal Bank of America stage, they were so fascinating and alluring that they barely seemed real.

“All of you girls look so good tonight,” Ritter smiled. The crowd roared as young girls leaped onto anxiously awaiting male shoulders. The audience was a Cinco de Mayo mix of drunken citizens in mustaches, sombreros, and glitter.

Wheeler revealed that the band continues to challenge and push themselves. They also experiment with instruments that they do not necessarily know how to play, but still enjoy.

“It’s easy for bands to do the same thing, but it doesn’t make a band last or have an impact,” said Wheeler. “We’ve outlived so many bands.”

The All-American Rejects have sold more than 10 million albums and 16 million singles worldwide. They are ranked in both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 Artists of the Decade.

“They did great tonight,” said 22-year-old Brittney Hughes. “I’ve been a fan for five years and feel like I have grown up with them through their music.”

“Tyson always writes about what he knows,” said Wheeler. “Even if it’s a story it’s always real… not about wizards and [explicit]. But on each record you can hear where we were at during each point in our lives. At a lot of our tours people show up who are our age and have gone through similar experiences.”

The All-American Rejects closed their set with their hit single Gives You Hell, the most played song of 2009 on their Top 40 Chart making it one of their most successful songs to date.

“We always try to make a well rounded list,” said Wheeler. “That way you’ll walk away completely and utterly satisfied.”

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