The Struts @ Danforth Music Hall - Toronto
July 31st 2025: The Struts @ Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON
The Struts | Photos Courtesy of: Peyton Mott
Opening night of The Struts 10-year anniversary tour for their classic rock-fused debut album, Everybody Wants. Seasoned professionals, made up of, Luke Spiller, Jed Elliot, Adam Slack, and Gethin Davies, strutted out in front of strobing lights with their English swagger.
After opening with the track “Put Your Hands Up” (not performed since 2018), singer Luke Spiller announced that the rest of the set would be a complete playthrough of the decade-old record. “Could’ve Been Me” had the entire crowd, adorned in titular merc, swaying and clapping along to the anthemic single with stars in their eyes. Similar to the opening song, many of the tracks throughout the set hadn't been performed for years, “Young Stars” and “Only Just A Call Away” amongst the collection.
The encore filled the gaps of fan favourites not included on the debut album, including the classic Queen cover of “We Will Rock You.” And with one final bow, the Derby hailing group sent the awed audience into the warm streets of Toronto with a show to remember.
Summer School Tour 2025 @ Marquee Theatre - Tempe
July 27th 2025: Summer School Tour 2025 @ Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ
Charlotte Sands @ Summer School Tour 2025 | Photos Courtesy of: Ashley O'Mara
On Sunday, July 27, the Summer School Tour made a stop at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, AZ, showcasing seven emerging artists and bands gaining fast popularity within the pop-punk/alt-rock scene. The tour, sponsored by idobi Radio and Hot Topic and founded by Eric Tobin (Hopeless Records), Michael Kaminsky (KMGMT), and Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour), focuses on artist development while striving to strengthen and build community for the current and future generation of scene kids. The show marked the midway point of the tour and would fittingly serve as the last hurrah for many of the students and teachers within the audience who would be returning to school the following morning.
The tour rotates its lineup nightly, with sets lasting between 25 and 40 minutes each. On this evening, Huddy, a pop-punk artist from Stockton, California, kicked off the event, delivering a 25-minute set of tunes. Huddy was popular with the crowd, especially amongst the young ladies in the audience who let out screams whenever Huddy came near. The crowd could be heard singing along to tracks like “All the Things I Hate About You,” “Partycrasher,” and his newest single, “Vendetta,” released just last month. Huddy also treated the audience to a performance of an unreleased song, “Fragile,” before closing out his set with “Cyanide.”
Undoubtedly the heaviest band on the lineup, If Not For Me, a metalcore band out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, gave an impressive performance, inciting moshpits with tracks like “Demons” and “Blameless,” and bringing the evening’s sole crowd surfer. Despite the majority of the lineup consisting of much lighter, poppier rock artists, If Not For Me was well received by the crowd. If you’re a fan of bands like A Day To Remember and Underoath, give these guys a listen.
Alternative rock band Arrows in Action took the stage next. Normally a trio, the band was down a member this evening, with guitarist Matthew Fowler succumbing to food poisoning and being forced to take the bench for this one. Despite being down a member, Arrows in Action stole the show, putting on what would end up being everyone’s favorite and most unforgettable performance of the evening. Victor (vocals, guitar) and Jesse (drums) made their entrance, rocking matching white tracksuits and tossing inflatable basketballs into the crowd to the tune of “Space Jam,” and the fun only ramped up tenfold from there. Not only was their performance on point, but they also brought comedy to the stage and had the audience laughing in between songs. Jesse emerged from behind the drums to lead the audience in a “viral TikTok dance” (neither viral nor a TikTok dance) for “Head in the Clouds.” For the rest of their set, members of other bands on the lineup, friends, and crew members took turns running onto the stage and shredding unplugged bass, and the crowd was living for it. The band ended their set with “Uncomfortably Numb,” and as they exited the stage, “We’re All in This Together” blasted from the speakers. Although this is likely their walk-off song every night, it seemed especially fitting this evening, as the whole crew came together to support their tourmates.
Although Arrows in Action may have been a tough act to follow, Beauty School Dropout took the stage and did not disappoint. While bassist Brent Burdett and guitarist Bardo Novotny emerged shirtless, frontman Colie Hutzler stormed onto the stage donning his best suit, immediately launching into one of the band’s two newest tracks, “FEVER,” released just last month. They kept the energy high as they delivered their signature “renegade pop” to the crowd, bopping their heads and singing along. The classic “Beauty School Dropout” played as the band ended their set, leaving fans buzzing and excited to find out who would take the stage next.
The crowd went wild as Nashville-based pop punk singer Taylor Acorn took the stage. She was a ball of energy, swinging her mic stand and flipping her hair as she traversed the stage, all while maintaining flawless, powerful vocals. Her guitarist, Ricky, was also a star, spinning, jumping, and swinging his guitar without missing a beat. In a vulnerable moment, Acorn shared with the audience that one of her best friends had passed away that morning. She dedicated a song to her late friend and requested that the audience sing along loud enough for her to hear it. Tourmate Charlotte Sands joined Acorn on stage for a performance of their song “Final Nail.” It was incredible to witness both of the scene’s current pop-punk powerhouses crushing it together on one stage. Overall, Acorn’s set was one “Hell Of A Show.”
The opening notes of “Tantrum” rang out as Charlotte Sands took the stage, vibrant blue hair whipping through the air as she blew the audience away with her powerful vocals and impressive stage presence. Sands is no stranger to the Valley, calling it a second home because of her close connection to the Valley’s own The Maine. She performed twice in the Valley earlier this year, with many fans in the audience having attended those shows as well. Sands acknowledged familiar faces, taking a moment to point out a couple of young children within the crowd that she remembered, no doubt creating a core memory for the young ladies. Sands had the whole room dancing and singing along to tracks like “Bad Day,” “Spite,” and “Dress- Heavy Version,” before closing out her set with “Hush.”
For the final set of the night, Rain City Drive took the stage, ending an incredible evening of performances on a high note. Frontman Matt McAndrew’s stellar vocal ability was on full display as they performed songs like “Lose My Composure,” “Wish You the Best,” and “Blood Runs Cold.” It’s no surprise he was the runner-up for his season of “The Voice”- the man can sing! The audience was treated to their newest release, which dropped July 10 and which they dubbed as their favorite song, “Ride Or Die.” Although the song was only just released, fans could be seen singing along to every word. The evening wrapped with the band’s highest-streamed songs- “Talk To A Friend” and “Medicate Me.”
The sophomore year of the Summer School Tour did not disappoint. It’s nice to see the work that is being done to keep the scene alive after all these years (it was never a phase!), and if these acts are any indication of what is to come, the future of pop-punk is bright, to say the least. The Summer School Tour is one that you won’t want to miss! Catch this lineup as it continues across the US through August 10, when the tour concludes in Philadelphia.
PUP @ The Concert Hall - Toronto
July 18th 2025: PUP @ The Concert Hall - Toronto, ON
Katie Gavin | Photos Courtesy of: Peyton Mott
Back in March, PUP announced their residency in their hometown, Toronto, lovingly titled “PUP Presents Mega City Maddness”. The tour followed 6 dates starting as a house show and heading through the city, gracing stages from large to small – tickets predictably sold out within 5 minutes. The city has birthed some of the most iconic artists of the 21st century, but through the 6-day PUP extravaganza, the Toronto natives prove that the scenesters who grew up with them will always show up as a community. The Concert Hall marked their third show of the run with a mid-sized capacity of 1,200 bodies tightly squeezed, buzzing with anticipation for the exclusive show.
Over the week-long PUP celebration, the band has delegated a theme to each night – the set surrounds each of their studio albums released. Each night has been top secret with the chosen record. At the Concert Hall, the crowd was gifted their 2019 record, “Morbid Stuff”, unveiled via the album cover as a backdrop as the four-piece graced the stage. While each show follows a specific record, the band doesn’t play it fully through, as singer Stefan Babcock eloquently puts it, “We’ve realized while coming up with these setlists…some of these songs we don't know how to fucking play.”
Between the classic tracks from the 2019 record, PUP played their hits like “DVP” and “Full Blown Meltdown”. The famous, long-time friend and PUP collaborator, Jeff Rosenstock, hopped on the gig as an opener. Though Rosenstock played a solo acoustic set to open the show, he made multiple appearances alongside the band. Bringing along guitarist John DeDomenci, the pair performed “Paranoid”, “Get Dumber” (recorded with Rosenstock), and popped in to yell along to “DVP”, the track dedicated to Toronto and its infamous expressway.
PUP demonstrates home is where the heart is, and it's beating in a sea of former (and current) degenerate kids of Toronto.
PVRIS @ La Maroquinerie - Paris
June 6th 2025: PVRIS, Julia Wolf @ Le Maroquinerie - Paris, France
PVRIS | Photos Courtesy of: Manon Pothin
What better place for PVRIS to celebrate White Noise’s 10th Anniversary than in Paris itself?
The band, led by Lynn Gunn, was back in the French capital on July 6 for a sold-out show. The crowd, full of long-time fans, was ready as always to welcome and cheer on PVRIS for what was their 12th concert in Paris. It is indeed pretty much a tradition by now for them to perform once a year in their eponymous city, and France is always ready to welcome them here.
Divided into a two-part set, the concert’s first half consisted of a front-to-back performance of PVRIS’ debut album, White Noise. After a brief intermission, the band then came back onstage for the second half, consisting of a set of their more recent - but just as loved - songs.
The evening was full of energy, both from the band and the fans, with bassist Brian MacDonald crowdsurfing early, barely two songs in, and Lynn Gunn closing the night by singing Monster in the middle of the crowd. Whether you were a new or returning fan, there was no question whether you were welcome and belonged.
Julia Wolf is the opener for the EU/UK leg of the tour. It may have been her first time in Paris, but she was already very much loved by the crowd, with fans already knowing her songs and singing along with her. She will be back in Europe for her headline tour in December, and it looks promising already.
Julia Wolf
The Neighbourhood @ The Anthem - Washington, DC
April 11th 2026: The Neighbourhood @ The Anthem - Washington, DC
Jesse Rutherford, The Neighbourhood - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
The Neighbourhood returned to the stage for the first time in five years in support of their fifth studio album, Ultrasound. Touring back-to-back nights across the US before hitting internationally, the band has a packed schedule for the remainder of the year. The Anthem was filled with eagerly energetic fans as The Noise Dept (who later played with The Neighbourhood) opened the night, followed by After. The Neighbourhood hit the stage right on time at 9, after being introduced to the stage by an oddly placed Siri-like bot voice. Immediately jumping into two new tracks from Ultrasound. The songs ebbed and flowed with tracks from the band’s full catalogue, with not much to be said in between. Ending the night with no encore, the band finished with the obvious tracks everyone has been waiting to hear all night, “Sweater Weather” and “Softcore”. As a longtime fan of the band and this being the first time I got to actually see them live, I was not disappointed (aside from Stargazing missing from the setlist). Now is the prime time to catch The Neighbourhood.
SETLIST
Hula Girl
OMG
Cry Baby
Prey
Reflections
R.I.P. 2 My Youth
A Little Death
Wires
Afraid
You Get Me So High
Fallen Star
Nervous
Planet
Devil's Advocate
Valentines / Baby Came Home 2
The Beach
Void
Pretty Boy
Cherry Flavoured
Daddy Issues
Good Grief
Private
Lovebomb
Sweater Weather
Softcore
Red Flag
AFTER
LadyLand Festival @ Under the K Bridge - New York
June 27th 2025: LadyLand Festival @ Under the K Bridge - New York, NY
FKA Twigs | Photos Courtesy of: Em Yu
Ladyland Festival 2025 was an electrifying celebration of queer humans, non-binary, and trans artists in the heart of the music scene. The event featured an eclectic lineup spanning various genres, from indie and pop to electronic and punk, showcasing the immense talent of LGBTQ+ creators. Night 1 was headlined by rap icon Cardi B, and night 2 was headlined by the captivating FKA Twigs.
Both nights provided a safe space for all identities and were filled with vibrant outfits from the crowd. Founder of the festival and nightlife icon Ladyfag stepped up before both headliner performances to give a rousing speech about fascism the first night, and then reading the poem "I want a dyke for president" by Zoe Leonard for the second night. It felt like a truly healing experience that was all encompassing of the energy of the entire festival. Both nights included some amazing drag performances, live performances, and DJ sets, notably from Chase Icon, RPDR winner Symone, Japanese girl group f5ve, Lushious Massacr, Sukihana, Pabllo Vittar, vtss and ended with an overall final crescendo with FKA Twigs and her fantastically abstract performance showcasing her album Eusexua.
Alex Chapman, Chase Icon, f5ve, Lushious Massacr, Sukihana, Symone, Pabllo Vittar, vtss
Lucy Dacus @ Le Trianon - Paris
June 25th 2025: Lucy Dacus, Jasmine.4.T @ Le Trianon - Paris, France
Lucy Dacus | Photos Courtesy of: Manon Pothin
Just over three months after her intimate concert in church Saint-Eustache, Lucy Dacus was back in Paris on June 25th. This time, accompanied by a full band, the singer brought her Forever Is a Feeling tour to France and performed her latest album to yet another sold-out venue.
Despite the heatwave, the energy was not missing and fans were singing along to every word, rainbow flags and fans in full display. The date also marked the fourth anniversary of Lucy Dacus’s album “Home Video”, which the crowd celebrated by singing Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday in French) before having the singer perform songs off it like Cartwheel and Going Going Gone.
Jasmine.4.t was the concert opener, and it’s safe to say she gained new fans that night.
Jasmine.4.T
Simple Minds @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia
June 14th 2025: Simple Minds, Soft Cell, Modern English @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia, PA
Simple Minds - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Simple Minds brought their “Alive and Kicking Tour” to Philadelphia on June 14th, 2025. The weather could not have been more perfect as the bands took the stage in the outdoor amphitheatre at The Mann Center. To round out the 80s synth rock revival tour, Simple Minds was joined by Soft Cell and Modern English.
The seasoned bands took the stage, being sure to connect with their lively fans. Modern English opened with spirited renditions of “I Melt With You”, delivering a nostalgic, enthusiastic set that warmed up the crowd. Soft Cell followed, offering a sleek synth-pop set including their hit cover “Tainted Love” and other hits like “Memorabilia.” You could tell everyone was out to have a fun time.
Simple Minds proved why, after 40 years, they continue to fill amphitheatres around the world. Under starlit skies at the Mann, they honoured their legacy—melding old favourites with thoughtful newer material—while showing that their passion remains alive and kicking. Whether you came for the hits or the deeper cuts, this Night with Simple Minds was a resounding triumph.
Soft Cell
Modern English
