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Phoenix Erupts as All Time Low Lead a Generational Pop-Punk Night at AZ Financial Theatre
October 27, 2025 • by Phyoe Thaung
Fall always hits different in Phoenix—both because of the unbeatable weatherbut also because it signals the start of the indoor tour season when the alternative scene migrates from parking lot festivals into tightly packed theaters. On October 23, All Time Low turned AZ Financial Theatre into a pop-punk homecoming rally, celebrating the release of their new album Everyone’s Talking! with a night stacked in nostalgia, sweat, and singalong catharsis. With support from Mayday Parade, The Cab, and The Paradox, the lineup bridged multiple eras of alt culture, creating a show that felt as much like a community gathering as a concert.
Atlanta newcomers The Paradox kicked off the night with a jolt of caffeine-level energy. Formed just last year and already riding momentum from their debut EP NSFW, their sound lands somewhere between blink-182 irreverence and early 2000s Warped Tour grit. They tore through a tight six-song set full of punchy hooks and bratty humor—frontman Eric Dangerfield cracked jokes between tracks and charmed the room without trying. It was raw, fast, and loud, the perfect tone-setter for the rest of the lineup.​
Las Vegas pop-rock outfit The Cab followed, shifting the tone while keeping energy levels sky-high. Returning to touring in support of their new EP, the band delivered a surprisingly emotional and nostalgic set—almost like a reunion between old friends. Frontman Alexander DeLeon reminded Phoenix that he has roots in Southern Utah, a fun reveal that only deepened the crowd connection.​Songs like "Bad" and "Temporary Bliss" landed well, but it was their closer "Angel with a Shotgun" that turned the room into a stadium-sized singalong.
Then came Mayday Parade, emo’s most reliable emotional detonator. Fresh off their own anniversary tour, the Tallahassee band wasted zero time, opening with new material from Sad before diving headfirst into staples like "Jersey" and "Oh Well, Oh Well." The pit woke up instantly. Crowd surfers launched like they had something to prove.
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What makes Mayday Parade timeless is their honesty. Derek Sanders doesn't talk at the crowd—he confides in them. Between choruses, he reflected on connection, struggle, and the purpose of heavy music in dark times. It didn't feel scripted. It felt communal.
By the time they closed with "Jamie All Over," the room felt like it could levitate. After 20 years, Mayday Parade remain one of the genre’s most consistent—and most beloved—live bands.
Gaskarth walked out alone to open the set with "[cold open]", a minimalist intro that set an intimate tone before the band crashed in behind him. What followed was a 17-song masterclass in crowd control. “Weightless” hit like a time bomb. “Sleepwalking” shimmered. “Modern Love” flexed their still-sharp pop instincts.
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Even while still recovering vocally, Gaskarth sounded strong, leaning on the crowd when needed—literally inviting them to shout choruses so he could "take it easy." And they did. Phoenix screamed every single word.
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The band’s banter—equal parts chaos and self-deprecating humor—kept things loose. Jack Barakat roasted the front row. Rian Dawson smirked behind the kit like he’d seen it all. Zack Merrick remained a quiet force on bass.
The encore brought a double finale: "The Weather"—still unreleased at the time but already getting fan love—and of course "Dear Maria, Count Me In." Right before launching into it, someone in the crowd yelled that the Everyone’s Talking! album had just dropped live during the set. The band paused, checked their phones, and celebrated on stage. It was the most All Time Low moment ever—chaotic, funny, and unfiltered joy.
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They ended the night in confetti-level triumph, and honestly, it made the drive home feel like page one of an ATL nostalgia binge. If this era is the start of a new chapter, Phoenix is already waiting for the tour part two—because next time, we’ll be screaming the new songs even louder.
