On October 19, the indie teens took over College Street Music Hall in New Haven, Connecticut. As the line funneled into the venue, the crowd sang along to “Best Friend” by Rex Orange County as they awaited opener LAUNDRY DAY and headliner Malcolm Todd. At just 22 years old, the singer and guitarist is selling out venue after venue on “The Wholesome Rockstar Tour,” including his Friday night show in New Haven.

LAUNDRY DAY took the stage to play a memorable set. Playing some of their newer songs like “SUPERMODEL” and “APEROL SPRITZ,” the band was a hit and had the audience singing along from the jump.

One of my favorite parts of the night came from the shock of hearing drummer Sawyer Nunes take to the mic. His tone resembled that of the aforementioned Rex Orange County lead singer, Alexander James O’Connor, and was perfect for a slowed-down mellow tune. Not every day do you see a drummer who can sing and play simultaneously with that level of control.

The band ended their set with their most viral hit and my favorite song, “FRIENDS.” The fans loved every second of the set, and I was more than impressed at the quality and skill of a band most popular for their TikToks and comedy singing.

From the moment Todd hit the stage to the second the show ended, his energy was electric. He came out strong playing one of his newest songs, “Zip Up My Fly,” and the crowd went crazy. Wearing his sunglasses all night, he rocked the stage; his guitar skills and vocals were through the roof.

Indie rock is precisely where he should be; not only did he own the stage, but the crowd knew every word to every song. I was surprised by how young his audience was, filled mostly with teens and young adults. What the crowd lacked in life experience, they made up for in loyalty. Many people in the crowd had handmade shirts decorated especially for the show.

One of my favorite moments of the set was when the band walked away and Todd played acoustic. Todd and his guitar cued in “You Owe Me,” and I was sincerely surprised by the quality of his voice. Todd showed control and a deeper value to his music away from his rockstar persona.

His encore brought down the house and left fans waiting outside the venue for nearly an hour, awaiting the walk to his bus and then an electric after-show at a nearby Yale fraternity.

The Wholesome Rockstar Tour is proving to fans and music lovers everywhere that indie is alive and well. It was refreshing to see that the younger generation of indie fans has artists like Malcolm Todd and LAUNDRY DAY to keep the genre running and keep concerts fun.