More than warming up the crowd, this stacked lineup began with the duo Daisy Grenade. Keat Whittaker and Dani Nigro shattered the barricade by introducing their track “Sick In The City” from their 2023 EP Cult Classic. The pair commanded the participants who showed in to support of the full lineup, shouting to the crowd to get low during the bridge of their latest release, “How To Hide A Body,” before bursting into high kicks and levitating jumps at the drop.
Meet Me @ The Altar bounded on stage next with bright vibes and even brighter smiles. The band is deceiving when three members grace the stage, but don't be fooled their sound fills a room like none other. Singer, Edith Victoria, led into the track “Hit Like A Girl” by having the audience start a circle pit where boys are not allowed. Quickly, a hole opened with women spinning around each other, a trio even formed their own circle in the center. Guitarist Téa Campbell and drummer Ada Juarez form the stabilizing legs of the trio, bringing their performance to the next level. The band finished out their set with a mashup of covers featuring “Sweetness”, “My Friends Over You,” and “My Own Worst Enemy”.
Knuckle Puck was the eve of State Champs debut to Danforth Music Hall, and they did not disappoint. The two bands are intertwined pop punk essentials and the audience knows it. The formation of the band together brought energy through their face paced jumping-inducing setlist.
At last, from the moment the band took the stage, the energy in the venue was electric, and it never let up. Nearly 15 years ago, State Champs began their road to becoming staple pieces in the pop punk scene. Evidently, through the eyes and surfers of the crowd, it’s clear they’ve become household names. Many of these fans even commented that they were introduced to State Champs as they supported the very last Warped Tour (well, until now).
Kicking off the set with their top track, “Silver Cloud,” the crowd immediately erupted into cheers and crowd surfing. As one participant got tossed to the barricade, singer Derek DiScanio and the audience member emulated the likes of The Creation of Adam as the two reached toward each other in musical solidarity.
Surrounded by shifting rainbow lights, the guitarists, Tyler Szalkowski and Ryan Scott Graham, who flanked the stage burst into high kicks, spins, and gravity-defying jumps. With the final song of the set, "Secrets" it's well established that the band has a perfect mix of energy, nostalgia, and heartfelt moments making State Champs an unforgettable night of pop punk legacy.
