Daisy Grenade | The Camera Affect

Daisy Grenade had so much to say on their first headlining tour in Philadelphia.

July 2, 2026 Leave a comment

If there’s anything that Daisy Grenade knows how to do, it’s give a sold-out crowd the time of their lives. The duo–consisting of Keaton Whittaker and Dani Nigro–has become one of the biggest up-and-comers in the alternative scene, bringing glitter-goated angst, catharsis, and chaos with them everywhere they go. Their most recent release, So Much To Say, arrived earlier this summer and introduced a raw explosion of the reality behind femininity, fame and heartbreak through five thoughtfully constructed tracks.

After years of touring as support for bands like Fall Out Boy, Pierce The Veil, Waterparks, and more, Daisy Grenade finally took the step forward to become the headliners this summer. The pair spent the beginning of June on the road across the United States, stopping in Philadelphia for the So Much To Say Tour’s penultimate show at The Foundry on June 18.

Vienna Vienna took the tiny stage first, delivering a hard-hitting set that served as an introduction and declaration of his “glimmer-rock” sound. The California-based musician’s cathartic take on the alternative genre celebrates self-expression, rebellion and emotion, with each deeply personal track telling the story of his lived experiences as a queer artist. Vienna Vienna performed a handful of songs from his latest EP Entertain Me and his most recent single “Grief Is For The Living” before finishing with “God Save The Queens.”

The set design mirrored the atmosphere of their So Much To Say short film with artificial plants, small trinkets and the same fake fish tank from the “Rent To Own” video decorating the stage. The duo opened the show with “A Beautiful Woman Is A Weapon, I Guess That’s Why They Call Her A Bombshell,” already demonstrating the unstoppable force they become as soon as they step foot on any stage. The crowd at The Foundry wasted absolutely no time reciprocating that energy as a mosh pit formed and crowdsurfers continuously hurled towards the barricade almost immediately.

The energy only intensified when “Got It Bad” and “Are You Scared Of Me Yet” followed as the crowd grew louder with every word. Quick shoutout to Whittaker for the fun sing-along moment we shared during “Got It Bad” (my favorite song of theirs) for being a personal highlight of the night. There’s something about the way that she and Nigro carry themselves on stage that always leaves you coming back for more. Seriously, this was my seventh show of theirs and I also attended their final show at Bowery Ballroom the very next day–I can’t get enough of Daisy Grenade.

Broadway performer, friend of Daisy Grenade, and “It Must Be Me” music video star Caro Daye Attayek was brought onstage for fan-favorite track “Emily.” However, her special appearance wasn’t the only trick the duo had up their sleeves. Later on, they brought out Dan “Soupy” Campbell of The Wonder Years to perform “Rent To Own.” Campbell actually co-wrote the emotional track and made the sweet moment a fun surprise for the audience. As a huge fan of both bands, I had a gut feeling that he’d show up in some capacity at the show and I was ecstatic that I was right.

Though I’ve seen Daisy Grenade live numerous times, I’ve never been lucky enough to hear anything from their Sophomore Slump EP. “Real Horror Show” was easily one of the night’s biggest stand-out moments as Whittaker delivered the most harrowing, guttural vocal performance during the song’s final minute that I’ve ever heard. More recent songs “It Must Be Me” and “Good Luck (Wish You Hell)” also allowed the duo’s vocals to take over, as they belted their hearts out and gave the crowd a taste of their impressive range.

“Riot” and “Sick In The City” gave everyone one last chance to let loose before “Hypocrite” made an appearance for the encore. Within the sea of people jumping, moshing and surfing, there wasn’t a single still body in the room from the second the show began until its eventual end.

Philadelphia doesn’t play around when it comes to live music, and neither does Daisy Grenade. The invigorating balance of energy between the band onstage and the crowd before them left me in awe for the entire hour and 15 minute set. This tour made it clear that the duo has mastered the art of performing with an even bigger display of their undeniable chemistry and consistent crowd interaction. There’s so much I could say about the level of skill they bring to their craft, but for now, I’ll leave you with one last sentiment: Daisy Grenade was always meant to be the headlining band.