Real Friends deliver a night full of sad songs and unforgettable memories to Brooklyn Paramount | Photos + Review

February 6, 2026 Leave a comment

When you think about the pop-punk genre, it’s hard not to have Real Friends come to mind. The Chicago natives have cemented themselves as a staple act within the scene since 2010, delivering emotionally gut-wrenching tunes that have become the soundtrack to the lives of so many. 

Now consisting of Cody Muraro (vocals), Kyle Fasel (bass), Eric Haines (rhythm guitar), David Knox (lead guitar) and Brian Blake (drums), the band recently wrapped up a short run of shows supporting State Champs for their Around The World and Back 10 Year Anniversary Tour. Real Friends brought the intensity that their live shows are known for to their opening slot at Brooklyn Paramount on January 16th. 

The band wasted absolutely no time once they got on stage with “Late Nights In My Car” as Muraro immediately called for two mosh pits on each side of the massive 2,700 capacity room. The thing about Real Friends is that they don’t just encourage the action, they join in on it. Waves of crowdsurfers began to glide through the air before Muraro made his way to the barricade and jumped on top of the crowd, grabbing the hands of those who surfed past him without missing a single note. 

Though the band released their latest album not too long ago in the fall of 2024, their setlist mainly consisted of older fan favorites. It was practically 2016 all over again once “Mess” kicked in next. The crowd was over the moon for this one as multiple circle pits raged on from the center and Brooklyn Paramount echoed with every word. 


When it comes to catharsis and connection, Real Friends are experts. Serving as one of the first singles from their recent record Blue Hour, “Waiting Room” is a gut-wrenching account of the daily battle that accompanies grief. This one is always tough to get through while watching the band’s raw emotions shine and many in the crowd sing along through tears. It’s a beautifully resonating part of the set that slaps you in the face with a reminder of how powerful and healing music can be. 

The crowd’s energy quickly returned as the mosh pits opened back up and even more people began to float towards the barricade for “From The Outside.” The contrast between the depressing and upbeat songs throughout the set is what makes these shows as fun as possible. You never know if you’re going to be sobbing uncontrollably or headbanging when you’re at a Real Friends show and I think that’s what makes the experience so beautiful.  

An extra special part of Real Friends’ live shows is when Muraro joins the crowd for “I’ve Given Up On You.” The singer hopped in the middle of the large sea of people to deliver an exceptionally emotional performance of the band’s most popular track. I’ve been lucky enough to find myself up close for this part twice now and each time has brought a wave of intensity that’s hard to describe. The raw emotion from the fans as they sing along with Muraro is what makes this moment integral to Real Friends’ sets. It’s heartwarming and a privilege to witness attendees connect with strangers over their shared love for this song and the band themselves. 

“Me First” followed right after, once again showcasing some serious musical whiplash. They ended their set with “Tell Me You’re Sorry” and urged the crowd to go as crazy as possible for this last song. Real Friends took over Brooklyn Paramount from the second the lights dimmed at 7:45pm until they stepped off stage 30 minutes later. 

I can confidently say that this band gets better every time I see them, each show outperforming the last. Whether as a support act or the headliner, Real Friends are a phenomenal band that I will always grab a ticket to see whenever they tour near me. While they currently have no upcoming shows for the rest of 2026 just yet, I am eager for the next time I find myself in a room full of people screaming “It’s been a lonely year” at the top of my lungs.

Review & Photography by Amber Bintliff

Keep up with us on social media! Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube

Filed under Photography, Reviews Tagged with , , , , , ,

Grayscale kept the Wellmont Theater alive with breathtaking performance | 9/12/25 | Photos & Review

September 26, 2025 Leave a comment

Often dubbed one of my personal favorite things to come out of Philadelphia, Grayscale have been a riveting force in the alt-rock scene since their formation in 2016. Consisting Collin Walsh, Andrew Kyne, Dallas Molster and Nick Veno, the four-piece released their emotionally compelling fourth studio album The Hart in January. The band previously hit the road this year for an Australian headline tour and as support for Mayday Parade’s Cheers For 20 Years Tour in the spring. 

Now, Grayscale joins Our Last Night for The Final Tour across North America alongside Wind Walkers. As someone who has been listening to Grayscale since high school and went to college 10 minutes from the Wellmont Theater, seeing the band so close to home was everything I could’ve ever dreamed of. 

The night kicked off with Wind Walkers, a vibrant post-hardcore and alternative metal band from central Massachusetts. I’ve been casually listening to the band for a little over a year now, but their live energy blew me away. “Drowning Hymns” and “Bodybag” are two of my favorite tracks from Wind Walkers and hearing them live elevated them in a way I can’t even describe. The band was a lot of fun to watch on stage and I’m excited for their upcoming EP I Don’t Belong Here. 

Grayscale followed shortly after and, as always, delivered a killer set. Opening with “Kept Me Alive,” the Philly rockers showed the crowd that they were in for one hell of a 45 minutes. I’ve been lucky enough to catch the group on tour twice now and Walsh’s vocals have immediately sent chills down my spine the second he picks up the mic both times. His voice especially shines through on “Through the Landslide” and “Talking In My Sleep,” showcasing his incredible range. 

The first older song of the night was “Dirty Bombs,” a fun track from their 2021 album UMBRA. This one in particular was a highlight of this night for me. Getting to sing along to every word and look around to see others in the crowd doing the same felt so healing. Grayscale also played “Fever Dream” from their 2017 debut album “Adornment.” This song is always a treat live, especially when you hear how loud the audience gets at the “So sit down, shut off / I don’t know how I let you lead so long” part. 

After listening to Grayscale for almost 8 years, finally getting to hear one of my favorite songs of theirs truly took the cake for the best part of this night. When I saw my first Grayscale show at The Stone Pony Summer Stage back in May, they had skipped over “In Violet” on the setlist for a special surprise performance of “Mum II.” Being able to finally hear this one live after so many years was a beautiful experience and I even found myself in one of the few mosh pits during their set for it. I’m not kidding when I say that this song was on almost every single Spotify playlist I made from the ages of 14 to 18 (and still is scattered amongst a few I listen to daily). 

Between songs, Walsh took the time to make some funny comments and express his gratitude to Our Last Night for taking the band on this tour. My personal favorite moment was when he asked the crowd if Montclair was Jets or Giants territory before exclaiming that it doesn’t matter and “Go Birds!” in honor of their home team the Eagles. He also acknowledged how they’re a bit out of place on the lineup of heavier artists, to which their solution was to perform an epic cover of Van Halen’s “Panama.” 

They ended their portion of the night with the closing track and lead single from The Hart, “Not Afraid To Die.” This song live is so special for so many reasons. From its beautifully motivating message to its cinematic production, Grayscale put their heart and soul into this track and it shows every time they perform it. “Not Afraid To Die” still hits so hard even two years after its release and remains as a dazzling finale to their live shows. 

While I’m not as familiar with or as big of a fan of Our Last Night, their energy on stage blew me away. The post-hardcore band first popped into the scene in 2004 and has since built a massive discography that blends re-imagined covers of popular songs and their own stellar original music. They kicked off their set with a cover of Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” and I could feel the entirety of the Wellmont Theater come alive for the band. 

While the band announced they’d be halting touring to spend more time with their families and focus on new music, Our Last Night presented an energetic and bittersweet final show in New Jersey on the 12th. The Final Tour wraps up on Friday, September 26th in Nashville, TN at Ryman Auditorium.

Review & Photography by Amber Bintliff

Keep up with us on social media! Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube

Filed under Photography, Reviews Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,