REVIEW: Summer School Tour Rocks the Marquee: A Lesson in Live Music (7-27-25)

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Tempe, Ariz. — With triple-digit temps blazing outside, the best way to beat the Arizona heat is inside a venue blasting air conditioning and even louder music. The “Idobi Radio Summer School Tour,” proudly sponsored by Hot Topic, brought the heat in a different way on Sunday, July 27, at the Marquee Theatre. Doors opened early at 6 p.m. to make room for a stacked lineup featuring Rain City Drive, Charlotte Sands, Taylor Acorn, Beauty School Dropout , Arrows in Action, If Not For Me, and Huddy. As the tour continues its westbound run through mid-August, this Tempe stop felt like the perfect send-off to summer—one last electrifying night before the school year kicks in.

HUDDY Kicks Off the Night with Pop-Punk Energy

Singer Huddy performs live on stage, smiling while holding a microphone, wearing a sleeveless yellow Marc Bolan graphic tee under vibrant blue and purple stage lighting.
Huddy
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Huddy started the night with a burst of energy that set the tone for the rest of the show. Best known for his viral fame on TikTok and his role in co-founding the Hype House, Huddy (formerly LilHuddy) has steadily transitioned from influencer to full-fledged pop-punk performer. Far from just a social media personality, his set proved he’s serious about music.

Backed by a tight band and moody visuals, he ripped through a six-song set that included fan favorites like “Vendetta,” “All the Things I Hate About You,” and “The Eulogy of You and Me.” Tracks like “Partycrasher” and “Cyanide” kept the crowd moving, while “Fragile” offered a more emotional moment. Whether you knew him from the For You Page feed or not, by the end of his set, Huddy had everyone ready for more.

IF NOT FOR ME Delivers a Metalcore Gut Punch

atrick Glover of metalcore band If Not For Me performs live, singing into a microphone with an expressive pose, wearing a black cap, mesh sleeves, and a dark shirt under green and blue stage lighting.
Patrick Glover (Vocalist), If Not For Me
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

If Not For Me took the stage next and wasted no time unleashing their signature brand of high-intensity metalcore. Hailing from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the four-piece—Patrick Glover (vocalist), Hayden Calhoun (guitarist), Zac Allen (bassist), and Cody Frain (drummer)—brought raw power, tight musicianship, and undeniable stage presence.

Patrick Glover (vocals) – If Not For Me
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Known for blending punishing breakdowns with catchy, anthemic choruses, they delivered an explosive set that turned casual listeners into instant fans. The band tore through six crushing tracks: “Demons,” “No Thanks to You,” “Alone,” “Say It to My Face,” “Blameless,” and “Feel Me Now.” Each song hit harder than the last, and by the end of their set, the crowd was alive and fully locked in.

ARROWS IN ACTION Keep the Good Vibes Flowing

Victor Viramontes-Pattison of Arrows in Action performs live with arms raised mid-motion, singing passionately into a microphone while wearing a white jacket over a black tank top, under dramatic stage lighting.
Victor Viramontes-Pattison (vocals, guitar) – Arrows in Action
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Arrows in Action brought a vibrant shift in tone, blending feel-good alt-pop with emotional punch. Since forming at the University of Florida in 2017, the trio—Victor Viramontes-Pattison (vocalist/guitarist), Matthew Fowler (guitarist), and Jesse Frimmel (drummer)—has built a loyal following thanks to their infectious melodies and heart-on-sleeve lyricism. Though guitarist Fowler was absent in Tempe due to illness, frontman Viramontes-Pattison reassured the crowd with a smirk, “He’s sick in the hotel, not dead,” earning laughs and cheers.

Despite the lineup change, the band didn’t miss a beat. A beach ball bounced across the crowd as they played through a sunny yet emotionally rich set featuring “Feel It Again,” “Light Like You,” “Cheekbones,” and “Wide Eyes.” Tracks like “Empty Canvas” and “All The Ways I Could Die” showcased the band’s deeper side, while “Uncomfortably Numb” closed the set on a high. With or without a full lineup, Arrows in Action proved they know how to connect and keep the good vibes going.

Arrows in Action perform live on stage at the Idobi Radio Summer School Tour in front of a full crowd. The stage features two digital screens with the band's name, a colorful Summer School 2025 backdrop, and dramatic overhead lighting. The guitarist sings into the mic, the bassist plays stage left, and the drummer performs behind a bass drum featuring the Summer School logo.
Arrows in Action
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

The band will end their jam-packed year at the 2025 Vans Warped Tour in Orlando, Florida on November 15th. For more information on upcoming tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit the band’s website HERE

BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT Mixes Chaos with Charm

Beauty School Dropout performs live under red lighting, with vocalist Cole Hutzler at center singing into a microphone, flanked by guitarist Bardo Novotny and bassist Brent Burdett, all shirtless and covered in tattoos.
Cole Hutzler (vocals), Bardo Novotny (guitar), and Brent Burdett (bass) – Beauty School Dropout
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Beauty School Dropout hit the stage with a kind of swagger. Formed in 2020 in Los Angeles, the trio—Cole “Colie” Hutzler (vocalist), Brent “Beepus” Burdett (bassist), and Bardo Novotny (guitarist/producer)—has been making waves ever since their early days. Backed by a heavy-hitting sound and an unfiltered attitude, their live set was a chaotic good time. “If you like mosh pits. If you like crowd surfing…” Hutzler teased the crowd with a grin, before laughing, “I see some scared faces.”

Cole Hutzler, vocalist of Beauty School Dropout, smiles on stage mid-performance, wearing an open white button-down shirt with visible tattoos on his arms. He holds a microphone by his side as red and purple stage lighting casts a glow behind him.
Cole Hutzler (vocals) – Beauty School Dropout
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

It was one of the most family-friendly pits of the night in the best way. Kids on their parents’ shoulders, outfitted in headphones, rocked out right alongside the longtime fans. The band’s setlist included high-energy bangers like “Fever,” “SEX APPEAL,” “FIGHT MODE,” and “A$$A$$IN,” with crowd favorites like “On Your Lips” and “WE MADE PLANS & GOD LAUGHED” keeping the energy alive. As the band exited the stage, the speakers cheekily played “Beauty School Dropout” from the film Grease, bringing their performance full circle.

TAYLOR ACORN Ignites the Crowd with Raw Emotion

Taylor Acorn performs live on stage, mid-song with an expressive look, holding a microphone and wearing a cropped Ramones tank top, lit by green and magenta stage lighting.
Taylor Acorn
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Taylor Acorn lit up the stage with a firecracker set that had the crowd—especially the girls up front—jumping, screaming, and singing along to every word. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter has quickly become a standout in the pop-punk revival scene, thanks to her powerhouse vocals, emotionally raw lyrics, and a sound that hits somewhere between nostalgic and freshly fierce.

Taylor Acorn performs live on stage wearing a cropped Ramones tank top and high-waisted pinstriped pants. Her long blonde hair is mid-motion as she turns away from the mic, with vibrant red lighting highlighting her hair. A band member with red-tinted hair plays guitar in the background.
Taylor Acorn
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Known for viral hits like her 2022 breakout single “Psycho” (which has racked up over 11 million Spotify streams), Acorn brought a personal, heartfelt energy to the stage that clearly resonated with fans. The stage visuals added an extra layer of charm, two large video boards flashed her name with butterflies fluttering around, and skeleton hands throwing peace signs, hearts, and “I love you” signs punctuated her set with punk-rock flair. She shared that while she’s played in Arizona before, this was her first time performing in Tempe, and she “loved the city.” The love was mutual.

One of the night’s most anticipated moments came when Charlotte Sands joined her onstage for their collaborative track “Final Nail,” which the two originally recorded together—bringing their studio chemistry to life in a striking live duet.

Taylor Acorn and Charlotte Sands perform together on stage, both holding microphones mid-duet, with colorful lighting and animated visuals in the background. Acorn, with half-blonde, half-red hair, wears a cropped Ramones tank top; Sands, with bright blue hair, wears a black tank top and jeans.
Taylor Acorn and Charlotte Sands performing their collab, “Final Nail”
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Her set included fan favorites like “Hell of a Show,” “I Think I’m in Love,” and “Goodbye, Good Riddance,” along with deeper emotional cuts like “Burning House” and “Shapeshifting.” Acorn closed with “Psycho,” sending the crowd into one final singalong frenzy.

CHARLOTTE SANDS Turns Vulnerability into Power

Charlotte Sands performs live on stage, singing into a microphone with bright blue hair flowing and colorful stage lighting in the background. She wears a black tank top and studded belt, with tattoos visible on her arms.
Charlotte Sands
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Charlotte Sands took the stage with a burst of bold energy—and her signature electric blue hair—to deliver one of the most emotionally charged sets of the night. Best known for her breakout 2020 single “Dress,” which went viral on TikTok, Sands has quickly carved out a space in the alt-pop/rock scene with her powerhouse vocals and deeply personal songwriting.

Charlotte Sands sings passionately into a microphone on stage, her bright teal-blue hair flowing as she performs. She wears a sleeveless Mazzy Star band tee, with tattoos visible on both arms, and dramatic lighting in blue and green casts a glow behind her.
Charlotte Sands
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Her setlist hit hard from the start with “Tantrum” and “Bad Day,” and the energy never dipped. Songs like “pity,” “use me,” and “spite” showcased her ability to shift from vulnerable to defiant in a single breath.

Before performing “Alright,” Sands shared that she wrote the track during the COVID lockdown, when the world felt isolated and live music felt impossibly far away. She paused to reflect on how good it felt to be back in a room together again, then asked the crowd to light up the venue with their phone flashlights—a moment that turned intimate and unforgettable.

Charlotte Sands performs on stage with one arm raised high, arching back at the microphone amid vibrant magenta and white beams of light framing her. Her bright blue hair and black outfit stand out as the crowd watches from below.
Charlotte Sands
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

She closed her set with fan-favorite “Dress” and the haunting “Hush,” leaving the crowd glowing, both literally and emotionally.

RAIN CITY DRIVE Brings It Home with Anthemic Intensity

Rain City Drive performs on stage during the Summer School Tour, with vocalist Matt McAndrew at center under purple and magenta stage lighting. The band plays to a packed crowd, with hands raised across the audience.
Rain City Drive
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Rain City Drive closed out the night with a high-octane set that blended post-hardcore grit with anthemic rock melodies. Originally known as Slaves, the band has reinvented itself under a new name—inspired by Manchester, England, the “rainy city” where the five members first connected. Now fronted by The Voice runner-up Matt McAndrew, Rain City Drive has found a powerful new identity, releasing their self-titled album in 2022 on Thriller Records.

From the jump, the band commanded the room with “Lose My Composure” and “Over Me,” driving home why they’ve become a standout in the modern alt-rock scene. McAndrew’s vocals soared, and his playful banter kept the vibe loose: “If the crowd gets quiet,” he teased, “we’ll leave the stage.” No chance of that happening. The audience stayed loud through punchy performances of “Concrete Closure,” “Frozen,” and fan-favorite “Ride or Die,” which McAndrew shouted out as the band’s personal favorite.

Matt McAndrew of Rain City Drive sings into a microphone on stage under purple lighting. He wears a black-and-gray AC/DC “Hells Bells” graphic tee and a silver chain necklace, with visible tattoos on his neck, hands, and arms. His expression is focused and intense mid-performance.
Matt McAndrew (vocals) – Rain City Drive
Photography:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Before launching into “Blood Runs Cold,” he rallied the room: “Let me hear you, Tempe. Make some noise, let’s pick it up!” They wrapped the night with the emotional “Talk to a Friend” and the hard-hitting “Medicate Me,” sending fans home sweaty, smiling, and fully satisfied.

Summer School Tour Leaves Tempe Fans Wanting More

As the final notes rang out and the house lights came up, one thing was clear; the “Idobi Radio Summer School Tour” delivered exactly what fans came for—high-energy sets, genre-spanning sounds, and a sense of connection that live music does best. From Huddy’s pop-punk punch to Rain City Drive’s emotionally charged closer, each artist brought something unique to the stage, creating a night that felt like both a celebration and a farewell to summer. This tour reminded everyone why we show up early, stay late, and scream every word. If the rest of the tour is anything like Tempe, then “Summer School” is a night that deserves a full house.

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Photographer: Mark Greenawalt

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Brittney Coon
Music Journalist at Burning Hot Events
ASU grad, works box office at Marquee Theatre, published author, screenwriter, filmmaker, concert addict, roadie wannabe, road trips, photography, graphic designer, always randomly mentions the show Friends in conversation, cat lover

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