The All-American Rejects are in the midst of the summer of their lives, but they’re not slowing down anytime soon. Fresh off a viral comeback fueled by a backyard house party tour, an amazing medley performance during a Savannah Bananas game, and an upcoming stadium run with the Jonas Brothers, the band brought their massive, genre-defying show to the main stage at Warped Tour Long Beach 2025.
And while Warped doesn’t traditionally name headliners, make no mistake, the Rejects closed the night, and they did it in style.
Joining a stacked lineup of legacy acts like Less Than Jake, Pennywise, Sublime, and A Day to Remember, the Rejects leaned all the way into nostalgia. Dressed in Beatles-style suits under a simple banner that read “The Rejects” in the Fab Four’s iconic font, they opened their set like it was Ed Sullivan in 1964. Only this wasn’t black and white, it was all the chaos, color, and catharsis of growing up Rejects.
Their opener? “Swing, Swing” the 2002 single that brought them to Warped Tour two decades ago with nothing but a debut album and a lot to prove. From there, they tore through “My Paper Heart” and “One More Sad Song,” instantly dialing up a time machine for fans who’ve been with them since the beginning.
But this wasn’t just a throwback set, it was a full-circle moment.
Frontman Tyson Ritter, ever the chaotic showman, joked, danced, flirted, and reminisced. He introduced “I Wanna” from The House Bunny soundtrack with faux-reverence (“a cinematic masterpiece”), then got real with the crowd, opening up about how unpredictable the last few months have been.
“We didn’t know what the hell we were doing,” he said. “But now… this feels right.”
They launched into “Sandbox,” a vulnerable and electric new single from their upcoming album — their first since 2012. Without skipping a beat, they followed it with a previously unheard track: Search Party, played live for the first time outside a private gig.
It was a moment.
The track built slow and tense, then burst open with a Nick Wheeler guitar solo that felt like classic Rejects with a sharper edge. Layered backing vocals soared. It’s easily the best of their new material and it hasn’t even been released yet.
And with no warning, they tore into “Dirty Little Secret,” sending the crowd of 85,000 into a frenzy.
Then, everything stopped.
Tyson stood center stage and paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who had recently passed. With only Nick beside him on acoustic guitar, they covered “Mama, I’m Coming Home” in one of the most emotional moments of the night. Tyson, clearly moved, delivered every lyric on the verge of tears. The audience echoed with chants of “Ozzy.” The moment went instantly viral — but it felt deeply personal.
From there, it was hit after hit: “Sweat,” “It Ends Tonight,” “Move Along,” “Easy Come, Easy Go,” and the closer, “Gives You Hell.”
It was a statement.
A band that once felt like the outcasts of the early 2000s pop-punk boom are now seasoned veterans, delivering a show that’s sharper, more dynamic, and more honest than ever before.
Warped Tour may not call it a headliner. But this was the All-American Rejects’ moment and they earned every second of it.
This was an important moment. A full-circle triumph that gave The All-American Rejects their long-overdue flowers. Not just for the hits or the humor, but for their staying power, their heart, and the way they’ve always played for the crowd whether it’s 85,000 fans at Warped or 85 kids in a backyard. With a legacy spanning over two decades and a resurgence that feels both earned and electric, the Rejects have officially solidified their place in music history.
Anthem Era 
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