Uncut Collective Media
Summer School Tour 2025 Returns with Sophomore Poise
July 27, 2025 • by Phyoe Thaung
What started last year as a scrappy callback to the heyday of Warped Tour is already starting to feel like a rite of passage. The Summer School Tour, now in its sophomore year, hit Tempe’s Marquee Theatre on July 27, loaded with a lineup that leaned confidently into pop-punk revivalism and alt-rock polish without sacrificing authenticity. Curated by idobi Radio, the touring showcase puts fresh bands front and center, trading nostalgia for momentum. The night was stacked with seven short, punchy sets from Huddy, If Not For Me, Arrows in Action, Beauty School Dropout, Charlotte Sands, Taylor Acorn, and headliners Rain City Drive
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Opening the evening, Huddy delivered a performance that was more restrained and emotionally resonant than some might have anticipated. Known for his viral fame and genre-bending persona, his live presence has matured. Songs such as “Vendetta,” “Partycrasher,” “All the Things I Hate About You,” and “Fragile” were performed with a new sense of control and introspection. His voice, raw and slightly frayed around the edges, hit especially hard during “Fragile." The crowd—mostly teens and twenty-somethings—screamed every chorus like it was ripped from their own breakup texts.
If Not For Me provided a striking tonal contrast with a set that leaned heavily into post-hardcore intensity. Opening with “Demons” and moving seamlessly into “Say It To My Face,” “Alone,” and “No Thanks To You,” the Pennsylvania-based band balanced aggressive instrumentation with unexpectedly accessible melodic hooks. Lead vocalist Patrick Glover's command of the stage was both physical and emotive, pulling the audience into a visceral performance without alienating those unfamiliar with their discography. The pit responded immediately, opening mid-song and sustaining through their final breakdown. It was a testament to the band’s ability to cultivate energy and connection in a short span of time.
One of the most anticipated sets of the night came from Arrows in Action, whose connection to the Arizona fanbase was apparent from their first chord. Performing songs including “Light Like You,” “Empty Canvas,” “Cheekbones,” and “Feel It Again,” the trio projected confidence without arrogance. Lead singer Victor Viramontes-Pattison’s vocal delivery was emotionally textured, while drummer Jesse Frimmel provided a tight, polished instrumental backdrop. Their ability to transform large rooms into intimate spaces was notable. As the set progressed, audience participation grew steadily, culminating in a chorus of voices that seemed to wrap around the band rather than simply mirror them.
Beauty School Dropout approached their set with a sense of theatricality that bordered on performance art, yet they maintained enough substance to avoid any sense of affectation. Their setlist that included bangers such as—“FEVER,” “SEX APPEAL,” “ON YOUR LIPS,” and “WE MADE PLANS & GOD LAUGHED”—was a kaleidoscope of slick pop-punk production, self-aware humor, and vocal precision. While their onstage banter and stylistic choices were intentionally provocative, the musicianship behind it was airtight. The crowd responded enthusiastically, engaging not only with the music but with the band’s sharp visual identity and choreography. It was a set that challenged the audience to let go and enjoy without overthinking.
When Charlotte Sands took the stage, the shift in energy was immediate and electric. Her set, which featured “Tantrum,” “pity,” “Bad Day,” and “spite,” channeled the raw, relatable emotion that has made her a Gen Z anthem-writer. Her vocal delivery was fierce yet vulnerable, tapping into the kind of catharsis that lives between angst and affirmation. Sands’ connection with her audience felt deeply personal, with fans visibly moved, shouting every word like it belonged to them. Rather than dominating the stage, she invited the crowd onto it with her—a communal act of release more than performance.
Taylor Acorn stepped into the spotlight with a quiet confidence that immediately shifted the pace of the evening. Her setlist—“Coma,” “Goodbye, Good Riddance,” “Hell of a Show,” and “I Think I’m In Love”—was a tightly woven tapestry of reflection, heartbreak, and grace. She navigated each track with striking vocal nuance, balancing strength and fragility in equal measure. Where earlier acts thrived on volume and velocity, Acorn created space for stillness, letting her lyrics breathe and resonate. The audience leaned in, not out of obligation, but out of emotional recognition.
Closing the night with both force and finesse, Rain City Drive delivered a set that felt expansive and deeply intentional. They launched into “Lose My Composure” with immediate momentum, then moved through “Wish You the Best,” “Concrete Closure,” and “Medicate Me” with a sense of narrative progression rather than just impact. Frontman Matt McAndrew brought both power and precision to every note, anchoring the band’s melodic intensity with an expressive range few in the genre can match. The instrumental interplay was tight and dynamic, shifting between atmospheric builds and explosive choruses with effortless cohesion. As they reached the final crescendo, the venue surged with energy, voices rising not just in appreciation, but in complete emotional alignment with the moment.
With its razor-sharp lineup and genre-blurring energy, the Summer School Tour has quickly become one of the most essential summer circuits in alternative music. Tickets and remaining dates are available at summerschooltour.com​
