Ballyhoo! kicked off their Summer 2025 tour in Harrisburg, PA, at XL Live, celebrating 30 years of beach rock, punk, and reggae. It’s incredible that after three decades, Ballyhoo! is still going strong. Led by brothers Howie and Donald Spangler, they released their ninth album, Shellshock, last year (check out my review), which might be their best work yet.

The night began with a private acoustic performance for a select group of VIP fans before the doors opened. Joined by the rest of the band—Scott Vandrey, Nick Lucera, and Mike Busch—they sounded fantastic. They played a few classics, took requests, and even sang “Happy Birthday” to one lucky fan. After answering questions and taking photos with everyone, it was time for the doors to open.

What struck me was the happiness radiating from that small group of fans; Ballyhoo! truly left a lasting impression on them.

Relatively new to the scene, the opening act was Beach Fly, led by singer and actor John DeMari, featuring Pops on lead guitar, Matthew James on bass, Sven Peltonen on percussion, and Jordenn Garcia on drums. These guys absolutely know how to rock the stage and kept the crowd entertained throughout their entire set. I’ve seen Jordenn perform while touring with Vana Liya, and I must say he is quickly becoming one of the best reggae drummers on the circuit, truly shredding the drums!

Beach Fly’s homegrown, organic sound is rooted in love and beach vibes. They embrace the modern reggae scene, drawing inspiration from bands like Slightly Stoopid and Rebelution, while also pulling from their favorites such as Xavier Rudd, Jack Johnson, and Surfaces. Their music transports the crowd to a fun, tropical surfside atmosphere filled with amazing beach vibes.

With John spending much of his youth on Brigantine Beach, where his father worked as a lifeguard, and Sven being an accomplished surfer, their connection to beach culture is evident. John has a wonderful voice that complements his charming demeanor and engaging stage presence. They performed songs like “Make It Work,” “Get in the Water,” “Tall Grass,” “Thinking of You,” “Monkey,” and “Crazy,” captivating the audience, who were eager for more.

I had a chance to hang out with them after their set, and they turned out to be super chill and fun guys!

Before their set, I had the chance to take some photos and hang out with Dustin Parks, Casey Kernohan, and Kevin Harvey of Cydeways. What fun, crazy, and super cool guys! I knew their performance was going to ROCK!

As Casey started pounding the drums and Kevin began strumming the chords for “Shadows,” the party was set to begin. When Dustin strolled out on stage, the crowd erupted with excitement. That’s exactly what Cydeways brings to the stage—a huge, fun party that blends a modern rock-reggae sound with alternative indie appeal, enhanced by sweet hip-hop grooves, creating their unique sound.

They infuse a laid-back reggae vibe into their live show while delivering a high-energy punch of alt-rock and hip-hop, making for an unforgettable experience. Dustin sounded fantastic all night, delivering sweet vocals and a dope lyrical flow. As they played their hits like “No Loyalty,” “Lockdown,” “Wasted Summer,” and “Ocean,” the party continued to roll on.

When they performed “Always,” I started to think about their sound and how the three of them bring so much tone, texture, and depth to their performance. It often feels as if five or six band members are contributing to this fabulous sound. As they closed the night with “Are You Down,” the crowd didn’t want them to stop but also understood what was coming next.

What I notice about Ballyhoo! crowds is the wide age range at their shows. It genuinely caters to all ages, with attendees ranging from 5 years old to 80, and they all enjoy the music together. Beach Fly kicked off the night with some chill, beachy vibes, followed by Cydeways, who rocked the stage. But when Ballyhoo! took the stage, they elevated the party to a whole new level, as they always do!

They jumped right in with “Shellshock,” the perfect song to get everyone dancing and jamming. Howie controlled the tone beautifully, sounding fantastic! They then played a crowd favorite, “Middle Finger,” which had everyone singing along. Another hit, “Clip My Wings,” followed, with the crowd again joining in with every word. Nick and Mike impressed the audience not only with their guitar and bass skills but also with their entertaining stage presence.

As they continued through their hits and classics, the energy in the room kept escalating. The upbeat ska vibe of “The Great Blackout” got the whole sold-out crowd moving; not a single person was standing still—they were all dancing their hearts out! They then treated long-time fans to some nostalgic tunes from their 2009 album, Cheers!, with performances of “Close to Me,” “The Friend Zone,” “Paper Dolls,” “Everything,” “Somewhere Tropical,” and “Alcohol Looks Beautiful Tonight.” It was clear that the long-time fans absolutely loved these classics!

It was time to lower the energy a notch and let the crowd relax and groove to “Dark Sunglasses,” “Morning Sunlight,” and “Walk Away.” As everyone swayed back and forth, they prepared to regain some energy. Once the crowd was ready to “Blaze Some Weed,” Ballyhoo! kicked things back up with “Scarlet Blue” and “Mixtape.”

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier, Nick, Scott, Mike, Howie, and Donald rocked the stage with “Riddled With Bullets.” Did I see a mosh pit form? They jammed out all night long, feeding off each other’s energy, creating a perfect match in musical harmony.

No one wanted the night to end, so they treated the audience to the beautiful acoustic song “Meaningful.” Watching the crowd’s reactions was amazing; everyone was completely absorbed in the moment, making it a great way to wrap up the night. But Ballyhoo! had one more major jam to deliver, hitting us with “Selling Out” to close the party. What a way to end the night! There was so much energy, drive, and power throughout the performance!

Beach Fly, Cydeways, and Ballyhoo! delivered an incredibly fun, energetic, and powerful night of music. Each band brought a unique blend of genres to the stage, including reggae, rock, punk, ska, Florida and Maryland beach vibes, indie, and hip-hop. Most importantly, they conveyed a strong sense of love throughout their performance—love for the crowd, love for the music, love for the art, and love itself.

As the audience began to leave, every face was lit up with a smile, showcasing the joy and energy of the evening. This tour is sure to be amazing, and we were fortunate to be part of the very first night.

One Love – Todd M. Judd