Top 15 performances from the 2014 APMAs
The 2014 APMAs was a night filled with celebration, not only through the exchange of awards, but also with unforgettable performances that make our awards show stand apart from the rest. Each performance featured the best of the best in our scene—from All Time Low to A Day To Remember—tag teaming on stage or riding solo. Josh Bernstein, co-producer of the APMAs shares his favorite performances of the night. Watch each performance below and share your favorite moment with us!
ALL TIME LOW with YELLOWCARD and NEW FOUND GLORY
“Dear Maria, Count Me In,” “Lights and Sounds” and “All Downhill From Here”
Start at 0:55
All Time Low used their debut APMAs performance to play a litany of pop-punk super-hits with their friends in New Found Glory and Yellowcard. Enter the time machine and buckle up for a sweet ride back to 2004 as the boys take you on a journey through your old mix CDs. This is the highlight of the night!
FALLING IN REVERSE with COOLIO and TYLER CARTER
“Gangsta’s Paradise”
Start at 1:25
Falling In Reverse breathed new life into the gangsta-rap anthem of 1995. For the APMAs though, the band stepped it way up by bringing the Coolio onstage to join them. If that wasn’t cool enough, Issues frontman, Tyler Carter lent his silky pipes to the song’s iconic chorus. We challenge you not to throw your hands in the air while you watch this clip.
JOAN JETT with SLASH
“Star Star”
Start at: 10:33
When you attend a show at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, you never know who is going to show up. In this case, it was not one, but two certifiable Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Famers, Joan Jett and Slash. The two guitar icons joined forces to perform the filthy Rolling Stones’ classic “Star Star,” proving that Ice-T and Body Count didn’t helm the night’s most X-rated song.
TWENTY ONE PILOTS with MICHAEL BOHN
“Car Radio”
Start at: 0:40
From up the highway in Columbus, Ohio came Twenty One Pilots, who served as the facto “hometown heroes” of the 2014 APMAs. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun pounded out their breakthrough single “Car Radio” with the support from the 100-plus string Contemporary Youth Orchestra. Stay tuned for the end when Michael Bohn of Issues removes his ski-mask and screams the last choruses with Joseph.
FALL OUT BOY
“The Phoenix”
Start at: 1:05
There is a good reason why Fall Out Boy are the known as one of the best live acts in the business. The band had just won the coveted Artist of The Year Award when they hit the stage and showed everyone why they deserved this fan-voted honor. Fall Out Boy know the greatest lesson in live music, always leave them wanting more. We definitely want more! #ThanksPete
BRENDON URIE
“Luck Be A Lady”
Start at: 1:24
The APMAs are a place where artists can stretch their creative boundaries and let loose. No one was more loose and swinging than the new King Of Croon, Panic! At The Disco frontman, Brendon Urie. He dusted off the Guys And Dolls classic, “Luck Be A Lady” and turned a brand new generation onto the original teen idol, Francis Albert Sinatra. No wonder why Ol’ Brown Eyes won Best Vocalist!
THE MISFITS with ANDY BIERSACK
“Dig Up Her Bones”
Start at 3:59
They say “never meet your idols.” But saying that doesn’t apply when Jerry Only is in the equation. Andy Biersack of Black Veil Brides has been very vocal about his devotion to the legendary horror-rockers, the Misfits. For the APMAs, Alternative Press invited Andy to get vocal on the Misfits’ “Dig Up Her Bones” and join his childhood idols onstage. Our only shame is that we didn’t film more of their epic soundcheck performances.
ALL TIME LOW with VIC FUENTES
“A Love Like War”
If the amazing meal that All Time Low served up earlier with Yellowcard and New Found Glory wasn’t enough, Jack, Alex, Rian and Zack then unveiled the sweetest dessert by bringing up Pierce The Veil frontman Vic Fuentes to close out their epic set. The AP fans named “A Love Like War” the Song of the Year; Who could disagree?
MACHINE GUN KELLY
“See My Tears”
Start at 1:50
The hip-hop star and Cleveland native came to the APMAs with a full band and joined forces with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra to perform his hit song “See My Tears.” Raw, emotional—and sometimes bone-crushing—MGK and the CYO let their performance crescendo into a head-banging fury that felt like Rage Against The Machine beating up the London Philharmonic.
A DAY TO REMEMBER with BEN BARLOW
“City of Ocala”
Start at: 1:21
The A Day To Remember performance that paid homage to their hometown shared many of the same elements of their great state of Florida. There were beach balls, neon colors and tons of party people getting down. ADTR whipped the APMAs crowd into a frenzy, testing the very limits of the APMAs security and editorial staff. Proving that this music crosses oceans, Neck Deep’s Ben Barlow joined the guys on guest vox.
ICE-T and BODY COUNT
“Talk Shit = Get Shot”
Start at: 0:38
Before Ice-T and company dropped the heaviest performance of the APMAs, Ice dropped some knowledge upon the APMAs attendees… “I’ve been your age—you’ve never been mine!” They then proceeded to play their latest rap-metal crossover hit, “Talk Shit = Get Shot.” In a moment of mutli-generational awesomeness and family bonding, Ice-T had his son back him up on vocals.
ASKING ALEXANDRIA with JONATHAN DAVIS
“Hungry Like The Wolf”
Start at: 1:00
When Asking Alexandria was paired with the iconic Korn frontman, Jonathan Davis, most assumed a collaboration of “Freak On A Leash” was par for the course. But like most of the APMAs performances, you have to expect the unexpected. Jonathan and the boys from Britain saluted Duran Duran, and ripped through the 1982 hit, “Hungry Like The Wolf.” Bonus points for Danny’s all-white suit!
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS with MACHINE GUN KELLY
“Alone”
Start at 0:50
Taking a break from recording their hit record Madness, Kellin Quinn & Co. came to the APMAs to play their first live show in nearly a year. The good news is they didn’t come alone! Lacing up with the impossibly tall Machine Gun Kelly, the band ripped through their APMAs-nominated Song of the Year, “Alone.” Mic issues be damned, this is still a once-in-a-lifetime performance to be played on repeat.
JOAN JETT with LAURA JANE GRACE
“Soulmates To Strangers”
Start at: 7:04
Our 2014 Icon Award recipient, Joan Jett used her stage time to bring up a gaggle of old friends and special guests to celebrate her night. When Against Me’s Laura Jane Grace joined the petite punk-rock legend onstage for their recent collaboration “Soulmates To Strangers,” a special magic was unleashed. That same magic led to a more recent collaboration between these two and Miss Miley Cyrus for her Happy Hippie Backyard sessions.
CONTEMPORARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
“Overture of the 2014 APMAs Songs of the Year”
Every award show has a secret weapon. For the APMAs, it was Conductor Liza Grossman and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra. They joined many of our headliners, super-sizing their performances into legendary status. But, the CYO’s opening overture saluting the 2014 APMAs Song of the Year nominees set the tone of the entire night and proved these young prodigies were the biggest rock stars in the room.
