I love AWOLNATION.
I’ve seen them live four times, …and I’ll never see them again.
That’s not hyperbole or some kind of dramatic farewell—it’s just the unfortunate truth. Last night’s show in Salt Lake City was everything I’ve come to expect musically: energetic, intense, and sonically brilliant. The guitar work alone is unbelievable. But visually? It was a blinding mess. Literally.
From 20 feet in front of the stage, I could barely see the band at all—not because I wasn’t looking, but because I couldn’t. The lighting setup was so aggressively misdirected that the entire band, includng Aaron Bruno, were cast in shadow while the audience was fully illuminated for nearly the entire set. It felt less like attending a concert and more like starring in one. And not by choice.
Center Stage, Total Darkness
Standing dead center on the floor, about twenty feet from the band, I expected to see the sweat, the intensity, the artistry of a group I’ve followed for years. Instead, I spent the night shielding my eyes. I counted no fewer than 50 lights on stage. Not one of them—not one—was pointed at the band. Instead, they were aimed directly into the crowd, rendering the musicians nothing more than silhouettes or phantoms behind a blinding wall of glare. It is the “Phantom’s” tour, so maybe that was the point. If it was, it was lost on me.
I didn’t even realize Aaron Bruno had taken the stage for the first song—he was that obscured. I was particularly excited to see his incredible guitarist perform live. But throughout the show, he remained a mystery figure in the shadows. The light show was so aggressively audience-focused that I joked with friends: “Did we just pay them to come see us?”
A Pattern of Diminishing Visibility
This isn’t a one-off. It’s a trend. I’ve seen AWOLNATION four times over the years, and the lighting has gotten progressively worse with each show. At this point, I half-expect the next tour to feature a wall of 1,000-watt beams blasting the audience while the band plays a backing track from somewhere off-stage.
Four Theories
I’ve spent some time thinking about why the lighting has become such a bizarre liability. Here are four theories as to why this incredibe band has determined to hide their performance behind a blazing supernova blinding light:
Stage Fright? Maybe the band is shy. But that doesn’t track—AWOL’s stage presence is high-energy and theatrical. Hiding doesn’t fit the brand.
A Misguided Lighting Designer? Perhaps someone designed the show from the stage, never considering what it would look like from the crowd. If so, it might be time to rethink that choice—especially considering how many people were shielding their eyes or outright turning away from the stage.
The Audience as the Show? Maybe this is performance art at its most self-aware. Maybe Aaron Bruno is a genius who’s figured out how to get thousands of people to pay him to watch them. If so, it’s brilliant—but I’m not buying another ticket.
Accidental Disrespect? This is the hardest one to consider. I don’t believe there’s any contempt for the audience. AWOL has always seemed genuinely connected to their fans. But when you can’t see the band you came to see, it feels—intentionally or not—like the audience has been pushed aside in favor of spectacle.
The Upstairs Perspective
Interestingly, one friend from our group sat upstairs—up and away from the lighting blast. He had a completely different experience. He could see everything clearly. He loved the show. In fact, he called it one of the best concerts he’s seen in recent years. So I don’t doubt the performance was fantastic. I just couldn’t see it.
Final Thoughts: Listen, Don’t Look
I’ll continue to be a fan. I’ll play AWOLNATION at full volume through my headphones, I’ll follow new releases, and I’ll celebrate the artistry of the band. But unless something changes with the live production, I’ll be doing it from home.
Because the one thing a concert should never be…
…is unwatchable.
Here are some photos I took to show you what I mean…
