From Coast To Coast, Almost Monday Can’t Slow Down and Takes Parish to Jupiter

By Ana Ladaniuski

On Saturday, February 15th I had the pleasure of attending Almost Monday’s concert at one of my favorite Austin venues, Parish. Almost Monday is an indie-pop-rock band from San Diego, California. Some of their greatest hits have been songs like "Can’t Slow Down," "Cough Drops," "Sunburn," and "Broken People."

If you’re unfamiliar with them, I highly recommend listening to their newest album called DIVE. Some great starter tracks to get you hooked are "Jupiter," "Never Enough," and "Tidal Wave."

The first time I saw Almost Monday live was when they opened for Beach Weather alongside a smaller Californian band called Rec Hall, who I became obsessed with after seeing them perform. At the time, I only knew a few Almost Monday songs, but their energy, live vocals, and stage presence left a lasting impression and made me want to dive deeper into their music.

After the show, my friends and I met them at the merch table and had a really nice, down to earth chat. We mentioned we had seen their cover feature on Pleaser Magazine and Dawson, the lead singer, loved hearing that we knew about them prior to the show while he signed our copy of their setlist.

Fast forward to last week– Austin Underground got contacted to get press passes for Almost Monday’s show at the Parish, and I quickly jumped on the opportunity as I am now a huge fan of the band. While taking pictures, I felt myself being absolutely infected with their energy. I caught myself bopping my head to the beat, mumbling the lyrics behind the camera, and dancing while moving through the venue. 

When I saw them in early 2024, I saw a great band. But this past weekend, I saw rockstars. Dawson’s stage presence, Luke’s infectious groove, Cole’s electrifying riffs, and their touring drummer Rafael’s dynamic beats created one of the most captivating performances I’ve seen in a long time.

The energy in the room was contagious. The crowd was alive, screaming back lyrics, and it was clear the band was taken aback by the overwhelming response. Dawson repeatedly told the audience how the Austin show had quickly become one of their favorites on tour. While I might be biased, the intimacy and electricity of a smaller venue like Parish create an experience that arena or stadium shows can’t replicate. That night, in that room, everybody grooved in a way I had never experienced before. 

The audience demographic was also surprising. Up front, a group of kids experienced their first-ever concert, while in the back, couples danced, friend groups sang their hearts out, and my favorite concertgoers—a duo of middle-aged best friends—had the absolute time of their lives. Their childlike joy and word-for-word singing made them some of Almost Monday’s biggest fans in the room.

The setlist included a lot of songs from DIVE as well as some of their older hits from 2020, my favorite being a mashup of "Broken People" and  "Parking Lot View." The band also surprised the audience by playing an unreleased track,"Lost," which was so incredible that I’ve been rewatching live videos of it ever since. 

One of the most fun moments came during "She Likes Sports" when Dawson threw a mini basketball across the crowd to a hoop placed under the balcony. A few fans kept trying to shoot hoops with it for a few songs afterwards and it brought such a cool and friendly vibe to the back-of-pit enjoyers like myself. 

Another highlight was when the band brought their tour manager, George, onstage to celebrate his birthday. The opener band surprised him with a cake, and the entire Parish audience sang him "Happy Birthday." It was a wholesome moment that reflected the tight-knit bond between the band and their crew.

At the end of the show, Almost Monday immediately headed to the merch table to meet fans—a rare move for headliners these days. Of course, we had to talk to them again, and they were just as warm and appreciative as before.We obviously got another picture with them and we even asked George, the tour manager, to be in our picture!

Leaving the venue, my friends and I were in awe of how incredible the show had been. Having attended over 50 concerts, I’ve become harder to impress, but Almost Monday delivered. This performance has secured a spot in my top ten concerts, and I can’t wait to see how Almost Monday continues to grow. If you have the chance to see them live, don’t hesitate—you won’t regret it.