Concert report: Bi-pop singer mxmtoon provides bubbling energy during her performance

The singer-songwriter opens AJR’s The Maybe Man Tour 2024 at Dickies Arena

An eager and loud Texas crowd awaited mxmtoon at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on Wednesday night, July 10. Singer-songwriter and YouTuber Maia, known professionally as mxmtoon, performed as the opening act for pop band AJR on Wednesday, June 10, as Dickies Arena lit up in playful, vibrant colors and the band’s music rippled through the audience’s bodies.

The opening song “Fever Dream” from their first EP duskset the mood for the evening, cheering up the eager crowd with gentle guitar strumming and soft, warm lighting. The soothing introduction quickly changed to a harder pop sound, which smoothly led into the upbeat song “frown”.

Between songs, Maia interacted with the crowd, making witty, thoughtful comments like, “You do realize Fort Worth is just a word away from Fortnite, right?”

Halfway through the set, Maia kept the tension going by playing her hit “Prom Dress” from her debut album. The Masquerade, and phones quickly appeared in the crowd to record the familiar tune. Maia stood front and center with her ukulele in hand. Although the theatrics were minimal, her stage presence alone had the house cheering and singing along.

The crowd stared at the lively stage as the perhaps controversially titled song “I Hate Texas” was introduced. Maia wore a white cowboy hat with a red feather brim to perform the new, as yet unreleased country song. Although the piece is unique in her discography, she manages to maintain her classic indie pop sound.

The artist’s bubbly energy continued until the end of her performance and she had the audience captivated the entire time. Fans lit their flashlights to the final songs and the venue turned into a glittering sky. Maia got the crowd ready for the rest of the lively night.

mxmtoon at Dickies Arena (Photo by Kamila Vargas-Gonzalez)

—Kamila Vargas-Gonzalez