Sister duo Aly & AJ have come a long way since their days as Disney teen-pop stars. The Michalka sisters may have started their careers in the Disney Channel star-making machine, but they’ve since carved out impressive careers for themselves between music and acting. The duo’s 2005 debut album, Into the Rush, was released on a Disney-affiliated label and had its singles featured in Disney releases, and that association helped boost Aly & AJ’s profile while also potentially limiting them to a Disney-friendly audience.
For a time, the duo changed their name to 78violet to make a new start as mature, adult artists. But there was no need for them to abandon their actual names in order to sound musically accomplished or to be taken seriously, as demonstrated by recent EPs Ten Years and Sanctuary. Even as they’ve moved away from the Disney association and transitioned to a more electronic-focused sound, Aly & AJ’s music has remained sunny and catchy, proving that the distance from teen pop to indie pop is really not that far.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 7 p.m. Nov. 30, starting at $25 plus tax and fee. 702.632.7600
