It was 90s emo-punk-rock agogo at the O2 Academy in Glasgow as New Found Glory brought their 2025 tour to town. With twelve studio albums, thirty-four singles, and a handful of EPs and cover records under their belts, the Florida quartet have long since cemented their reputation as genre heavyweights. From the looks of the sold-out Glasgow crowd, their staying power is as fierce as ever.
Opening the night were New York’s KOYO — a band born from the hardcore scene and featuring members from outfits like SeeYouSpaceCowboy. Since emerging in 2020 with their debut EP Painting Words, KOYO have built a name for themselves on intensity and conviction, and their Glasgow set was no exception.
A wall of sound greeted early arrivals, with Joey Chiaramonte’s raw, shout-driven vocals slicing through thunderous guitars and pounding drums. The mix was loud, fast, and unapologetically aggressive. The crowd responded in kind — headbanging, shouting, and losing themselves in the chaos. It was a visceral start to the evening, perfectly setting the tone for what was to come.
Next up were Illinois natives Real Friends, whose melodic emo sensibilities offered a different shade of energy. Launching straight into Late Nights in My Car, they had the audience singing from the first note. Frontman Cody Muraro proved an infectious presence, constantly on the move and never content to stay confined to the stage. Within minutes, he was in the crowd — much to the amusement (and slight panic) of the pit security team.
Their 11-song set blended emotion with energy, balancing heartfelt lyricism and big choruses. The band’s chemistry was undeniable — spinning, jumping, and grinning throughout like pop-punk dervishes. By the time they closed with their lone slow number, Muraro had half the crowd swaying with him, the connection between band and fans utterly tangible.
Midwest Emotion Meets Glasgow Devotion? Most definitely!
And then, it was time.
As the house lights dropped, the roar from the packed Academy was deafening — the kind of welcome reserved for returning heroes as Pop-Punk Royalty Returns. The traditional Glasgow chant of “Here we, here we, here we f***ing go!” drowned out the intro tape, before ‘Something I Call Personality’ exploded from the speakers.
Chaos. Pure, glorious Glasgow chaos.
Frontman Jordan Pundik was in perpetual motion — a blur of colour against the band’s bright pink-and-yellow stage setup. Within seconds, the first crowd surfers were flying overhead, creating a nonstop stream of bodies toward the barrier. The pit security worked overtime, pulling grinning fans from the surf while trying to protect photographers and their precious gear.
Hits like’ Hit or Miss’ and Head on ‘Collision’ only turned the energy up further, each song greeted like an anthem. The 22-song setlist was relentless — a mix of old favourites, deep cuts, and a couple of cheeky covers thrown in for good measure.
The mosh pit became a sweat pit; the floor a sea of limbs, smiles, and spilled pints. Yet, despite the chaos, it all felt beautifully controlled — a celebration of everything New Found Glory have built over their storied career.
For a band with over two decades of touring behind them, there’s no sign of slowing down. With twelve studio albums, multiple EPs, and countless festival appearances, NFG continue to prove why they’re considered among the holy trinity of pop-punk — right up there with Blink-182 and Green Day.
As Josh Martin of The Wonder Years once said, “New Found Glory are one of the top three most influential pop-punk acts of all time.” After tonight’s show, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
The O2 Academy didn’t just witness a concert — it experienced a masterclass in controlled chaos, nostalgia, and unfiltered joy. New Found Glory aren’t just surviving in 2025; they’re thriving.
Review & Photographs by John Brown Photography
