Arcy Drive performs at the Fox Theater on Sept. 27, 2025. (Marin Mendell/CU Independent
On Sept. 27, Fox Theater was more than just a concert venue. It was a living room, backyard, and time machine all at once. The Long Island indie rockers Arcy Drive rolled in, and the crowd showed up ready to scream, sway and sing in unison.
For a band that only started releasing music in 2022, they have already collected a cult-like following. Their sound, which they describe as “Attic Rock,” is a little grungy, nostalgic and a lot of fun. Think a mix of The Backseat Lovers, Spacey Jane and Flipturn rolled into one. It feels like going through your dad’s old music collection, finding a dusty record, and realizing the music blasting out was written just for you.
Arcy Drive’s origin sound is like something straight out of a coming-of-age movie. Childhood friends from New York began jamming out in a shed on Arcy Drive (yes, the street is real). That energy hasn’t faded out. When the group is onstage, the connection between lead singer/guitarist Nick Mateyunas, guitarist Austin Jordan, bassist Patrick Helrigel and drummer Brooke Tuozzo. Their first single “Roll My Stone” put them on the map, and was followed by the “Attic Sessions” live album, which I got to enjoy on their first tour in 2023. They also toured with Flipturn in March and April, which helped gain even more of an audience. This past spring, they dropped their first studio album, “The Pit,” proof that they’re not just a backyard band, but a group carving out their place in the indie-rock scene. As someone who’s been a fan since their first single, it’s been awesome to watch their rise from playing small bars, to festivals and going on their first North American tour as the main act.
Of course, Fox Theater deserves its own shoutout. Students and locals swear by the cozy and welcoming vibe.
“Fox is a personal venue to me, feels very homey and comfortable,” CU sophomore Emma Severenson said. “I feel very close to the artists I see here and that makes me feel more connected to the night and the sound.”
Honestly, I agree. As a new resident to Boulder and a first-timer at Fox, it didn’t just feel like a concert; it felt like a community. By the end of the night the walls seemed to hum along with us.
For some, live shows are more than just entertainment.
CU senior Valencia Martinez summed it up pretty perfectly: “Music to me is life, I do everything with music. It inspires my mood and everything I pursue in my life. Concert-going is my vacation. Arcy Drive is an absolute fun time, one of the best. When you’re in Fox, you’re a part of Fox,” she said.
That’s the magic of live music: for a couple of hours, strangers in a room stop being strangers.
For me, Arcy Drive’s show was more than a concert. It was a reminder that sometimes music doesn’t just play in the background, it takes over the room, your body and soul. When that happens, it’s more than just sound. It’s life.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Marin Mendell at marin.mendell@colorado.edu
