BEYOND THE NOTES
Photo by Zach Hood (@zachhood.photo)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 23, 2026 – The excitement in the air was palpable as the lights came down over the Fonda Theatre. As the five boys took to the stage, a sold-out crowd erupted into passionate applause and profuse cheering. The real-life band, The Runarounds, has embarked on a staggeringly impressive sold-out North American tour following the smashing success of their TV debut. The Amazon Prime Video musical teen drama follows the high school rock band’s journey in an eight part series. Watching them perform on a Friday night transported me straight into their world – where nothing but summer, free-spirited tunes, and good vibes mattered.
They opened their show with a burst of energy, jumping right into tracks titled “Ghosts,” “Cellophane,” and “Sophia.” The setlist is particularly special, as it is composed of completely original songs that were all a part of the television series, with the addition of a select few covers unique to the concert. From the flurry of dancing during “15 Rootbeers,” to the way the crowd lit up during “Beautiful Stranger,” I imagine this was exactly what it would have felt like if I was in the show myself.
I watched the crowd explode in exhilaration as Lilah Pate joined the boys on stage soon after. As the actress who plays the lead singer’s love interest in the series, the two shared a few beautiful duets that left the audience stunned. “The Climb,” a cover of Miley Cyrus’ nostalgic song from her Hannah Montana days, had everyone in the crowd eagerly singing along. After the two’s fiery rock cover of “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” the entire audience began fervently chanting for season two, which has not been officially renewed as of now. If the sold-out tour was not enough to prove the TV show’s success, the dedicated fanbase is determined to solidify the band’s legacy.
The band worked their way through the more popular and iconic songs from the series, demonstrating exactly why they have risen to such stardom. They performed their singles including “Funny How The Universe Works,” “Senior Year,” and even “Arrhythmia,” which had just been released onto streaming platforms the night before.
In an exciting encore, the group invited Lilah Pate back onto stage to cover “Valerie,” in the same manner as they did on the TV screen. Thanking the crowd for making a dream come true, and promising a speedy return, the band closed out their show with “Chasing The Good Times.”
Through and through, the concert was simply a gathering of old friends having good, clean fun with each other. From the boys rowdily playing guitar on stage, to Pate weaving in and out of the barricade dancing with both the band and the fans, The Runarounds concert was a chance for everyone to forget about the chilly weather outside, truly showing that summer does last forever.
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