SWEET PILL BRING EMO'S NEXT GENERATION TO LIFE IN BUFFALO WITH SPACED AND HEART TO GOLD
Sweet Pill first came across my radar in 2023 when I saw them open for The Wonder Years in Buffalo. Won over by their performance, I quickly became a frequent listener. Their latest record, Still There’s A Glow, has since become one of my favorite releases of the year. A powerhouse group out of Philadelphia, Sweet Pill bring a distinct edge and punch to their emo-adjacent sound, offering something fresh to a genre that always needs it. So, like many fans, when the band abruptly canceled their planned tour, I worried they’d never play again. Following a necessary mental health break, Sweet Pill returned with a rescheduled headlining tour, eager to claim their place in emo history as one of the genre’s most unique and powerful bands.
Electric City is one of Buffalo’s newer venues. Surrounded by historic theaters and hotels, it feels like an oddly unique setting for a punk show. Tucked away in a back lot and up a flight of stairs, the space feels more like a retail store than a music venue. New hardwood floors, clean bathrooms, VIP sections glowing with warm light, and the strong aroma of popcorn make it feel like a place you’d host a wedding reception or corporate luncheon. Everything is well-planned and meticulously organized. Yet here we are, lined up for a “punk” show. Perhaps this is simply the new normal for a scene that has aged out and reinvented itself several times over. Looking around, I see mostly younger faces posing for the flashes of their digital cameras, although the occasional millennial hairline stands out to my relief. If this is truly emo’s next generation, I’m ready to see what it’s all about.
Spaced opened the show, representing their hometown with their classic hardcore-inspired sound. Naturally, they perform against a video screen displaying their logo over footage of Buffalo Sabers hockey fights. I’ve seen Spaced a handful of times over the years and have been intrigued by their rise to prominence in the scene. Despite the band’s hardcore energy, the crowd initially seems hesitant to move, although a modest pit gets going after a few songs. Vocalist Lexi Reyngouldt never stops moving onstage, shifting side to side, throwing kicks, and jumping. She brings exactly the confident energy you want from a hardcore frontperson. The band tears through song after song of fast D-beats, trippy guitar leads, and heavily distorted riffs. A call to mosh gets some response, though much of the crowd still seems unsure how to participate, even though they clearly want to. That’s not wrong, but I’d love to see this band in a smaller, barricade-free setting with stage dives and nonstop moshing. Halfway through the set, a show of hands reveals that many in attendance are seeing Spaced for the first time, prompting Reyngouldt to encourage them to check out Buffalo’s local hardcore scene. I really respect that move, and it reminds me what’s truly important here: Buffalo hardcore's growth. Spaced have always shown up for Buffalo, and I hope Buffalo continues to show up for them.
Heart To Gold were up next, a name I’ve seen floating around social media and on show flyers for quite some time, so I already know they have a decent amount of hype. They soundcheck with an extended, funny, albeit goofy rendition of Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” changing the lyrics to “We are Heart To Gold, and we are on the road.” The band seems perfectly in tune with this crowd right from the start, which makes sense for a group that emerged from the Minneapolis DIY scene and has earned co-signs from the likes of Will Yip. Vocalist Grant Whiteout sports a Have Heart shirt and delivers a strong, intense vocal performance to match. The band confidently delivers their emo-influenced pop-punk songs, occasionally adding spacey guitar leads that echo through the room. They bring plenty of emotion and swagger, even during their slower material, where those emo influences really shine. Despite being a three-piece, Heart To Gold sound impressively full and loud. The crowd seems thoroughly entertained, especially during a strange moment when they whisper into the microphone, which somehow prompts laughter and barking. It all feels very “new gen,” while still offering glimpses of something more unique. Overall, I’m impressed with their set and feel like their best work is still ahead of them. They’re a perfect fit for this tour.
What better way to start a Sweet Pill set than by walking onstage to Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me”? It’s a move that somehow doesn’t feel out of place and, if anything, completely captures the room’s attention. This is truly their crowd. The band is wearing matching Spaced hoodies in solidarity with their opener. Bathed in green lighting and backed by four neon signs displaying their album title, Still There’s A Glow, Sweet Pill launches into their opening song, “Sunblind.” The crowd immediately erupts with more excitement than at any other point in the night. The band seems to genuinely have fun, moving around the stage and singing to one another while vocalist Zayna Youssef cuts through the mix with a crisp, commanding voice. Sweet Pill seems to have mastered the balance between technical, Midwest emo-inspired riffs and heavy-hitting sonic punches. Even slower cuts like “Diamond Eyes” captivate the audience with their emotion and technical prowess. The crowd sways and sings along before jumping right back into the action with push pits and even an attempted wall of death. Between songs, the band shouts out their hometown, Philadelphia, and shows some love for the Eagles.
What really stands out to me, though, is their unique approach to crowd interaction. At one point, two guitarists embrace while keeping the music going, eventually sharing a kiss as the crowd goes wild. They invite a fan onstage to sing part of a song and even introduce a “Sweet Pill stretch break,” which I fully appreciate. It’s cool to see a band with such powerful stage presence and confidence still connect with their audience in such a fun, intimate way. They perform with larger-than-life energy without ever feeling too big for the room. Their tight, technical playing perfectly complements Youssef’s raw, passionate vocal style. This band has come a long way since I first saw them a few years ago. Perhaps this truly is “emo evolved.”
I leave that night feeling inspired by this newer wave of bands taking the reins of a genre I grew up loving. I’m glad Sweet Pill is helping lead that charge, and even more glad they’ve stuck around.
