NEW FOUND GLORY // O2 ACADEMY, GLASGOW
A NIGHT OF NOSTALGIA, NEW ANTHEMS, AND NON-STOP ENERGY!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
NEW FOUND GLORY PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S O2 ACADEMY
PHOTOCREDIT: PAUL STORR PHOTOGRAPHY
Hailing from Long Island, New York, tonight's openers Koyo bring a blistering hardcore-esque pop-punk energy to start the evening. From the moment they hit the stage, their raw intensity has the crowd fully engaged.
Drummer Sal Argento is a standout — his cymbals don’t stand a chance with the sheer force he’s playing with, driving every song forward with unstoppable momentum. Highlights of the set include “Anthem” and “Mile a Minute,” both perfectly capturing the band’s mix of emotion and chaos.
While their set is short, it's unforgettable - with Koyo proving why they’re one of the most exciting rising names in the punk scene!
Opening with “Late Nights in My Car,” Real Friends waste no time setting the tone — the energy is insane from the word go, with frontman Cody Muraro already in the crowd before the first chorus hits. The momentum keeps rolling with “Waiting Room” and “Our Love Was Like a Sad Song,” both delivered with the kind of passion that makes the room feel alive.
Things slow down briefly for “I’ve Given Up on You,” introduced by a heartfelt message from Cody about looking after yourself — a moment of calm reflection before the chaos resumes. The band waste no time kicking things back into high gear with “Summer,” and the energy hits new heights when Cody invites anyone who’s never crowd surfed to give it a go during “Six Feet.” The crowd duly obliges, creating one of the night’s most euphoric moments.
Closing out with “Tell Me You’re Sorry,” Real Friends leave the stage to huge applause. A brilliant choice of support act — from the very first note, they have the audience on their side.
Pop-punk legends New Found Glory waste no time firing on all cylinders with an opening trio of “Something I Call Personality,” “Hit or Miss,” and “Head On Collision.” You’d be forgiven for struggling to be able to stand after that explosive start!
The band mix nostalgia with surprises, with “Sonny” standing out as an emotional high point and their cover of “Let It Go” from Frozen (introduced by clips from the film) providing a fun moment. New material gets its time to shine too — “100%” from their upcoming album Listen Up! (due early 2026) goes down brilliantly with the Glasgow crowd.
After “Dressed to Kill,” frontman Jordan Pundik reminisces about the band’s past Glasgow shows, joking about how good the Barrowlands catering is — especially the haggis served by a “big bearded man straight out of Game of Thrones.” The singalong cover of “Kiss Me” keeps the feel-good vibes flowing before the main set closes with fan favourite “Understatement.”
The crowd barely catch their breath before New Found Glory return for an encore of “Intro” and the set-staple “My Friends Over You.” It’s been a long time since they last played Glasgow — and tonight proves just how much they’ve been missed!
REVIEW & PHOTOS BY PAUL STORR PHOTOGRAPHY