On May 29, 2025, the entire Regent Theater came to life with jumping, clapping, laughter, balloons, and boundless energy. It was the final night of Cheekface’s North America headline tour, with support from Pacing. Both artists brought a whimsical energy to the stage, each unique in their own way. It was clear that both bands have a lot of respect for one another. Together, they created a night that brought people together. The crowd was incredibly friendly and excited for the show—one fan even came dressed in a hotdog costume.

When Pacing took the stage, they immediately charmed the audience with their comedic spirit. They opened with a joke bit about chips, which had the whole crowd cheering. Lead singer Katie McTigue radiated confidence and charisma, performing with a constant smile and expressive hand gestures that added even more personality to the set. It was refreshing to see the rest of the band smiling and having fun as well.

Pacing’s setlist included songs such as “Chips,” “The Family,” “Sunny,” “Nothing! (I Wanna Do),” “Bite Me,” “Have You Tried Meditation,” “I Want to Go Outside,” “Annoying Email,” “Plnet Ftness,” “Boyfriends,” and “Live/Laugh/Laugh.” Fans of artists like Ricky Montgomery, Cavetown, and mxmtoon would love Pacing. Their songs are deeply relatable, even covering everyday struggles like canceling subscriptions. At one point, they shared a story about having to cancel subscriptions for a deceased relative, connecting with the audience in a heartfelt yet humorous way.

One of the best moments during their set was during “Boyfriends,” when they got the entire crowd to play pat-a-cake with each other. The room filled with joyful clapping and the sound of new friendships forming. Pacing is definitely an underrated artist, but their relatable music is sure to reach many more people.

Cheekface began energizing the crowd even before stepping on stage. Cardboard pigeons and a chipmunk plushie were placed around the set—a fun preview of the kind of energy they bring. Watching Cheekface live felt like being in a movie. Everyone danced like they didn’t have a care in the world. The crowd was so kind that people literally went out of their way to offer me their spot.

It was so easy to move around that I got to see the show from all perspectives of the audience, which only made the experience that much more exciting. At one point, balloons were being tossed into the air, and you could see the glow in the eyes of the crowd. Their guitarist brought rockstar energy with dramatic hair flips, while another band member performed with sassy, bouncy movements. Cheekface even got us to sing about cup noodles—over and over again. Their music offers a comedic yet pointed commentary on the state of society, including themes like social media. If you like Rare Americans, you’ll definitely enjoy Cheekface.

Their setlist included “Popular 2,” “Best Life,” “Flies,” “Featured Singer” (with a Cha-Cha Slide break), “We Need a Bigger Dumpster” (mashup with “Pink Pony Club”), “Rude World,” “Life in a Bag,” “Growth Sux,” “I Only Say I’m Sorry When I’m Wrong Now,” “Wind Is Gone,” “Noodles,” “When Life Hands You Problems,” “Military Gum” (mashup with “Give It Away”), “Eternity Leave,” “Art House,” “Yo Guy,” “Content Baby,” “You Always Want to Bomb the Middle East,” “Dry Heat,” “Hard Mode,” “Listen to Your Heart.” “No.,” and “Living Lo-Fi.”

One of the most epic moments of the night was when they got the entire audience to do the Cha-Cha Slide. Toward the end of the show, they took a moment to honor Stubbs, the band’s iconic dog mascot, who passed away during the tour. In their own way, Stubbs will continue to live on in the band’s art and in the hearts of fans. Hearing the lead singer’s speech was a poignant reminder to keep going, no matter how hard life gets—that there are things worth staying alive for. Cheekface is definitely a band the world needs right now.

I also want to give a special shoutout to my friend Tre, who told me about the show and has been running lights for the entire tour. Straight-up legendary work—the lighting that night was top-notch and the reason I was able to capture so many cool shots. The crew is a huge part of what makes a show like this happen, and the entire night was flawless.

I’m so glad I went and will now be playing Pacing and Cheekface on repeat. These are artists you definitely want to check out.