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It's bittersweet to be making this post. Murder by Death are currently on the road for their Farewell Tour. Murder by Death have been a part of my life for the past 20 years. Some of my longest-lasting friendships were formed through this band, and my love for them and their music is unconditional. It's sad to say goodbye, though it's not for forever. The band will continue to get together for their cave shows, and hopefully some other one-off events here and there, but for the most part, their touring career is coming to an end. When the band announced the dates for their farewell tour, I knew without a doubt that I was not going to miss their Halloween show. I can't imagine a bigger bang to go out on. 
They enlisted the help of Folk-Punk rockers AJJ to send them on their way. AJJ is another band that played a part in my youth. The pairing was perfect, and I couldn't have been more excited. I arrived at the venue in an entire blue jean ensemble and red puffer vest. My best attempt at Marty McFly. Amongst the crowd I spied Ozzy, a hot dog, a few mothmen, Chas Tenenbaum and his children, and many other would-be trick or treaters. 

When the time came for AJJ to take the stage, the band had been replaced by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, but they still ran through a number of AJJ hits like "Brave as a Noun," "Heartilation," and "Big Bird" from the band's critically acclaimed, Knife Man. AJJ still performs with every ounce of gusto they've maintained their entire career. Honestly, though, the highlight of the night was when someone requested "Rainbow Connection" and Sean Bonnette as Floyd Pepper, went on a rant about never mentioning that song or bringing up Kermit. The stage banter was every bit as entertaining as the performance.

In the lead-up to the show, Murder by Death had been hinting at being cryptids for Halloween. Which ones they would all take the role on as was a mystery. As a video played displaying a poignant message about the farewell tour, and how many shows they have played (This was their 1939th show. The first time I saw them, they were only at 563.), out came The Lochness Monster, Bat Boy, Cerberus, Cyclops, The Abominable Snowman, The Mothman, and Baba Yaga. Throughout the night, Nessie made notes of how they wanted the setlist to be more spooky-themed. Naturally, that meant they had to include songs like "Ghost Fields," "Ash" and the classic kid-zombie tale of "Killbot 2000." However, they didn't shy away from fan favorites and classics like "Brother," "Comin' Home" and "Foxglove." Turla even asked for advice on how to make pizza spooky to properly include "Pizza Party! (at Gloria Estefan's House)." 

The night was beginning to wind down. The cryptids left the stage for the encore. Soon Baba Yaga and Nessie came back out to kick off "No Oath, No Spell" with the rest of the cryptid collective joining them midsong. They ended the night with the only song appropriate for their farewell tour: "Alas." 

I know this won't be the last time I see Murder by Death. They're one of my favorite bands, always will be, and I'm sad that this is goodbye for the foreseeable future. After nearly 2000 shows, they've earned their rest. Thanks for all the years of shows and music Murder by Death, and any time you've given to speak to me, whether for an interview, to hear my song requests, or just to fawn over your band. You all always did things your way and made being a fan of your band unique and exciting. From book clubs, shows in caves or haunted hotels, or the opportunity to cover any song suggested to you, being a fan was always a pleasure. Thanks for being real ones. 

Thrice @ Danforth Music Hall
Toronto, Canada
November 4, 2025

Thrice Live Review – Horizons/West Tour 2025

I was genuinely thrilled to finally get the chance to see and photograph Thrice — a band that’s been on my radar for years.

Their latest release, Horizons/West, feels like a powerful step forward: deeply introspective yet full of urgency, blending their trademark grit with sweeping, atmospheric tones. It’s clear that Thrice continue to evolve while staying true to the emotion that’s always defined them.

The venue was completely sold out, absolutely packed, with the energy buzzing even before the band hit the stage. A thick fog and dim, moody lighting set the perfect tone for what was to come.

As a new concert photographer, I quickly realized how challenging it can be to shoot under such dark, shifting lights — but once I put the camera down, experiencing the show from the crowd’s perspective was something else entirely. The waves of color — pinks, oranges, yellows, blues, purples, and greens — moved with the music and created a completely immersive atmosphere. Thrice truly know how to let their sound take control of the room.

The band delivered a strong, well-balanced setlist that flowed seamlessly between old favorites and new material.

The standout moments for me, both musically and through the crowd’s reaction, were The Dark Glow, Crooked Shadows, and Albatross. Each song hit in its own unique way and showed the band’s range perfectly.

If you get the chance to see Thrice live, expect a performance that’s tight, heartfelt, and full of purpose. You won’t find wild stage antics — instead, you’ll experience an honest, dynamic show that’s musically rich and deeply engaging from start to finish.

Setlist: Thrice @Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada

Intro. Dusk
1. Blackout
2. Gnash
3. The Artist in the Ambulance
4. Hurricane
5. Holding On
6. For Miles
7. Paper Tigers
8. The Dark Glow
9. Still Life
10. The Window
11. Stare at the Sun
12. Crooked Shadows
13. In Exile
14. Of Dust and Nations
15. Black Honey
16. Albatross
17. Beyond the Pines
18. Robot Soft Exorcism
19 The Earth Will Shake
Encore:
20. Vesper Light
21. Deadbolt

All photos by @front.row.fans

The Exploited @ The Rockpile Bar & Nightclub
Toronto, Canada
October 19, 2025

PUNKS NOT DEAD – 45 YEARS TOUR 2025

The OGs of punk rock, The Exploited, all the way from Edinburgh, Scotland, kicked off their 2025 Canadian Tour in Toronto, Canada, and I was there to capture it!

Growing up in Montreal, surrounded by my metalhead friends, I always had a secret passion for punk rock. It was the mid-’90s — I was just a teen — when I came across their 1990 album The Massacre in a shop selling used cassettes and CDs. I was hooked instantly! And if you’re wondering, yeah, I bought the cassette — CDs were still too expensive for me back then.

The show kicked off with three great opening acts, but Spades GT really warmed up the crowd with the perfect mix of high-energy crossover punk and thrash.

The moment The Exploited struck that first chord — and shirtless Wattie Buchan, sporting his signature red mohawk, stormed the stage — the crowd went absolutely wild!

This was my first time seeing the band, and let me tell you, the room heated up fast. The pit got a little rough as fans pressed against the lower stage, fists pumping toward the band. Wattie shared his mic with the crowd, letting fans sing along — everyone knew the words. It felt like one big party with old friends.

Let’s talk about the current lineup, starting with drummer Garry Sullivan. If you watch him live, pay attention to how he kicks off each song — his tempo drives the pit and the crowd’s reaction. In punk, that opening beat sets the entire track’s energy, and Garry nails it every time.

Bassist Robert Halkett, a.k.a. Irish Rob, absolutely owned the stage. Rob has this incredible way of connecting with the crowd — locking eyes, flashing cheeky grins, and feeding off their energy. From bouncing across the stage to hammering out those gritty basslines, he’s the heartbeat of the band, and you can’t help but get swept up in the madness.

Guitarist Robbie “Steed” Davidson locks in perfectly with Garry and Rob. He doesn’t play over the rhythm section — he is part of it. That’s what makes The Exploited’s live sound feel so massive without needing layered guitars. Robbie went full punk mode, using his mic stand as a slide and scraping it across his guitar — a classic punk-meets-metal expression. Punk shows thrive on visual chaos as much as sound, and Robbie’s hair swings amplify that sense of wild abandon. I really enjoyed capturing it on camera!

The four of them play in perfect sync, feeding off each other’s energy. Wattie commands with raw fury, Garry’s drums drive the pace like a hammer, Irish Rob’s bass shakes the floor, and Robbie’s riffs slice through it all. Pure punk synergy.

One of my favorite moments was when the band invited fans on stage to sing along to the anthem “Sex & Violence.” The stage turned into a full-on punk riot — bodies, voices, and noise all crashing together. That’s what punk’s all about: raw energy and pure connection.

By the end, everyone was drenched in sweat and grinning like they’d just survived a riot. Punk’s not dead — it’s alive, screaming, and wearing a mohawk.

Setlist October 18, 2025

1. Let’s Start a War (Said Maggie One Day)
2. Fight Back
3. Dogs of War
4. The Massacre
5. UK 82
6. Chaos Is My Life
7. Alternative
8. Troops of Tomorrow (The Vibrators cover)
9. Noize Annoys
10 .Class War
11. Never Sell Out
12. I Believe in Anarchy
13. Dead Cities
14. Beat the Bastards
15. Cop Cars
16. Porno Slut
17. Fuck the System
18. Army Life
19.Fuck the USA

Encore:

20. Sex & Violence (Vocals by fans on stage)
21. Punks Not Dea
22. Was It Me

All photos by @front.row.fans

After nearly two decades of thinking it would never happen, Rilo Kiley announced a reunion tour in the early Spring of this year. I was overcome with excitement at the thought of getting to see such an amazing band again. The "Sometimes When You're On, You're Really Fucking On" Tour was Rilo Kiley's statement that they were back and ready to take on the world again. I couldn't have been more anxious to catch them when they came to LA's Greek Theater. 

Opening the first of two nights under the stars at The Greek was Kyle Mooney. You may remember him as the person who dressed up as "Baby Yoda" on multiple occasions for SNL's Weekend Update. Now he's making music. However, what I didn't expect were fun-filled comedy tunes that had the crowd cackling in their seats. 

Following Mooney was the Indie Folk project from Katie Crutchfield, Waxahatchee. Readers of SPB may be more familiar with Crutchfield's previous punk rock band, P.S. Eliot with her sister Allison who came out to sing a song with Waxahatchee. Their set mostly consisted of tracks from their 2024 release, Tigers Blood, but they did sneak in a cover of Plains' "Problem With It" -- another Crutchfield side-project.

After a day filled with downpours and overcast clouds, the sky was beginning to clear as the programming intro to "The Execution of All Things" began to play. Rilo Kiley walked out. Jenny Lewis took up the bass and those opening notes began to resonate off the trees that encase the Greek while Lewis sang the opening line "Soldiers come quickly. I feel the Earth beneath my feet." It was almost like their was a sigh of relief. The city that brought Rilo Kiley to life was welcoming them back with their arms outstretched. 

The band spent the night bouncing between album, More Adventurous, Under the Blacklight, and their breakout sophomore record, The Execution of All Things -- playing fan favorites like "Spectacular Views," "Ripcord," and "Silver Lining." Throughout the night, Lewis was interacting with the crowd. During the crescendo of "Does He Love You," she even picked up a live camera and panned it around the crowd before turning it to herself to blow kisses as well as flip off the camera. 

When the time came for their encore, they decided to take it all the way back to the beginning with "The Frug" from their first EP. With a little help from their roadie, they went through all the dances in the song, except of course, for "The Smurf." You would think after all these years, they would have figured out how to do The Smurf by now. Rilo Kiley closed out the night with "Pictures of Success" from their debut full-length, Takeoffs and Landings. 

It was a wonderful night. Rilo Kiley haven't lost a beat. There's no telling where they go from here. With the exception of a couple of shows planned in Spain next year, there hasn't been anything else announced. The reunion tour has come to a close, and fans are itching to know what comes next. Will the band return to writing? Was this a one-off reunion? Will they do another tour in the future? It's all a mystery right now. At the end of the day, these shows were a gift. It was something special to see the return of a band that means so much to me and others. One can only hope they're just getting started. 

Texas is the Reason just finished out a scattering of reunion shows leading up to their appearance at Best Friends Forever Fest in Vegas. I had the pleasure of catching their performance at The Observatory in Orange County with support from Ted Leo (sans The Pharmacists) and Dallas solo artist, Slow Joy. 

The room began to fill up as Esteban Flores took the stage with his bandmates to fill out the solo project he deems Slow Joy. The authenticity in his performance was felt, and I wish the crowd had been more receptive. He melds together alt-rock and emo to produce a sound booming with honesty. The audience didn't seem very lively. Maybe it was the middle-of-the-week slump or the results of an aging fanbase, but even calls for cheers for Texas is the Reason resulted in a dull response. 

When the time came for Ted Leo to take the stage, the crowd was still passive. Ted Leo's one-man show was oozing lots of passion and energy, but even he couldn't liven up the crowd. He took a moment to acknowledge the "tough crowd" and recognize that he was aware that it wasn't his job to "win" the onlookers over. The notable fan favorites "The High Party" and "Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone" weren't getting the job done. A cover of Agnostic Front's "Power" got someone on the floor a little excited. Even the hail-mary cover of "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" wasn't enough to get the crowd to wake up.

Texas is the Reason walked out to cheers and excitement. The audience was alive again. The attendees were bobbing and shifting as the band ran through "every song [they] know," which consisted of the entirety of their full-length, Do You Know Who You Are?, including the bonus tracks from the re-release, and topped it off with a cover of Sugar's "Changes" with help from Ted Leo. The crowd seemed to be more responsive to Ted Leo this time around. 

Texas is the Reason didn't waste time walking off just to walk back out for an encore. Instead, they opted to stay on the stage and keep playing through their last two tracks of the night. The band seemed to be having a blast celebrating 30 years together. Who knows if they'll be heading back into hibernation or if they'll ever come back if they do? They have a couple more shows lined up supporting Jawbreaker and their own headlining show in December in their hometown of New York City. Show up and give them all the love and appreciation you can muster.