The singer-songwriter opens for the band AJR’s The Maybe Man Tour 2024 at Dickies Arena
mxmtoon at Dickies Arena (Photo by Kamila Vargas-Gonzalez)
An eager and loud Texas crowd awaited mxmtoon Wednesday night, July 10, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The singer-songwriter and Youtuber Maia, professionally known as mxmtoon, opened for the pop band AJR on Wednesday, June 10 as Dickies Arena lit up with playful, vibrant colors while the band’s music zipped through audiences’ bodies.
The opening song “fever dream,” featured in her first EP dawn, set the mood for the night. It brightened up the eager crowd with gentle guitar plucking and soft, warm lighting. The soothing introduction quickly shifted to a heavier pop sound that smoothly shifted to the upbeat song “frown.”
In between songs, Maia interacted with the audience with witty, observant comments, like, “Y’all realize that Fort Worth is one word away from being Fortnite, right?”
Approaching the middle of the set, Maia kept the excitement going by playing her hit song “prom dress,” off her debut album The Masquerade, and phones quickly emerged among the sea of people to record the well-known tune. Maia stood front and center with her ukulele in hand. While the theatrics were minimal, her stage presence alone kept the house cheering and singing along.
People kept their eyes glued to the vibrant stage as the perhaps controversially titled song “i hate texas” was introduced. Maia donned a white, red-feather-brimmed cowboy hat to perform the new, as yet-unreleased country-style song. Although the piece is unique in her discography, it manages to maintain her classic indie pop sound.
The artist’s bubbly energy persisted until the end of her performance, and her hold on the audience stayed strong throughout. The fans lit up their flashlights along to the closing songs and the venue was transformed into a glittery sky. Maia left the audience ready for the rest of the lively night.
mxmtoon at Dickies Arena (Photo by Kamila Vargas-Gonzalez)
—Kamila Vargas-Gonzalez