BY Alexyss Staker | November 26th, 2025
On a cold, rainy evening, Almost Monday turned an ordinary Friday into an immersive technicolor experience . The San Diego trio—known for their sun-drenched indie-pop and irresistibly danceable hooks—delivered a performance that felt like a burst of California summer dropped straight into Ohio.
From the moment they launched into “parking lot view,” the crowd was fully locked in. Frontman Dawson Daugherty bounded across the stage with his signature buoyancy, radiating the kind of unfiltered joy that makes Almost Monday shows feel less like concerts and more like communal serotonin boosts. His voice—smooth but playful—cut effortlessly through the room, giving each song a surprising emotional punch beneath its breezy exterior.
The band’s chemistry was undeniable. Guitarist Luke Fabry layered shimmering riffs over Coleman Becker’s dynamic basslines, creating the bright, rhythmic backbone that drives their signature sound. Together, they delivered a set that was impossibly tight yet never felt rehearsed—more like a spontaneous explosion of good vibes.
One of the night’s biggest highlights was “cough drops,” which had the crowd including myself shouting every lyric like a mantra. The band leaned into the song’s optimistic glow, stretching the final chorus into an extended, dance-heavy moment that left the room buzzing. “Only wanna dance” and “you look so good” turned the floor into a sea of movement, with fans jumping, swaying, and smiling like they’d been waiting all week for this.
Even the slower moments landed. During “tidal wave,” Dawson’s vocals softened, giving the packed venue a brief, intimate breath before the energy surged again. It was a reminder that Almost Monday aren’t just masters of the upbeat—they know how to land a feeling too.
What makes Almost Monday so compelling live isn’t just their sound—it’s the atmosphere they build. Their shows feel carefree, vibrant, and refreshingly unpretentious. They invite you in, make you dance, and leave you a little lighter than when you walked in.
By the final chords, it was clear the band’s star was only rising. As fans spilled out into the night—still humming the choruses, still smiling—it felt fitting to borrow a line from their own song: the sun keeps on shining, and so does Almost Monday.
