For the first show of their spring 2026 tour, alternative pop-rock band Kids that Fly kicked things off in their home state of Connecticut at Space Ballroom, alongside openers Similar Kind and Sum Sun. 

A week prior to the concert, I had the chance to sit in on an interview with Kids That Fly’s lead singer Nick Smeriglio during Ashley Rusch’s “The Retro Replay.” This exclusive interview got Ashley’s and my anticipation up prior to the concert, since Smeriglio had promised free merchandise and a chat with the band after the show. 

Starting off the night was Similar Kind, a plucky indie pop band from Norwalk, CT wasted no time setting the tone for the night. Although I didn’t know Similar Kind before that night, I can confidently say I’m now a fan.

Their set was characterized by constant energy thanks to the band’s contagiously positive vibes and a small but mighty group of veteran fans in the center of the pit. Similar Kind performs shows all over the East Coast, so if they are ever in your area I highly recommend seeing them live, as I preferred their live renditions over their studio releases. Some highlights from their set included “Nobody Loves You” and “peace of mind (everything everywhere).”  

The second opener, Sum Sun, took the stage shortly after, and brought a new sound with them. The duo consisting of Nick Benton and Ilan Pomerance brought an alternative electronic pop-rock sound with a country twang to their set, which was unique but welcome.

Honestly, the band looked like four frat boys with instruments just so happened to waltz onto stage, but they grew on me by the end of the set. Despite being described as alternative pop rock, a lot of their songs had a country twang to them, which I surprisingly enjoyed. My favorite songs from their set were “Waiting For The Dawn” and a cover of “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain.

As Sum Sun exited the stage to roaring applause, Kids That Fly wasted no time getting the stage prepared for their act. Suitcase stands holding guitars and other instruments littered the stage, tying into the retro-aviator aesthetic of the group. The vibe was further cemented when Kids That Fly took the stage, with Smeriglio wearing a flight jacket at the center of the stage. 

Kids That Fly formed in 2018 at the University of Connecticut and started out doing house shows and other campus performances. This connection to their university and the local scene of Connecticut overall was constant throughout the set, with the band calling out “Go Huskies” to roaring applause from the mass amount of college kids in the crowd. 

The band flew through their set, leaving no room for downtime to continue the constant high energy within Space Ballroom. Their nostalgic pop-rock sound is reminiscent of The Killers and The Strokes but with its own modern twist. Their most recent release, “THE BOXER” was played early into the set, much to my enjoyment as it’s my new favorite from the group. 

The setlist in general was jam-packed with newer releases and classic hits, but the song that surprised me the most was their cover of “Undressed” by sombr. Before that night, I couldn’t imagine them covering a song like this since it’s not their usual style, but they killed it. 

Since Ashley and I got the chance to interview Smeriglio the week before the concert, it felt extra special when Smeriglio spotted us in the crowd and waved to us, as well as nodding giving thumbs-ups periodically throughout the set, as if asking what we thought. 

A personal highlight of the night was when they performed “Kiss Her You Fool,” one of their oldest releases and how I originally discovered their music. Released in 2019, ‘Kiss Her You Fool’ is a catchy love song encouraging you to make a move on the girl you love. Hearing it live seven years after I first discovered it was a full circle moment, but also showed the bands evolution sonically and the maturity of their skills. I don’t know if it’s in the cards for them, but I would love to see a remastered version of “Kiss Her You Fool” released someday. 

Before the final song of the night, Smeriglio announced “I’ll tell you one thing about Hamden Connecticut, it’s certainly not a dead beat city!” which led into fan favorite “Dead Beat City.” Following an encore to “Look in Your Eyes,” the band encouraged the crowd to meet them at the merch booth in the back. As I made my way to the back, I spotted friends and family of the band, including three generations of KTF relatives wearing matching shirts. The fact their hometown show was the first show of the tour was really sweet to me, since all of their friends and family got to see them perform before they hit the road for the rest of the tour.

After Ashley and I chatted with the band and got our fair share of stickers and tshirts, we wished the band well on travels during tour and headed out of the venue. The energy of the night ruminated long after Kids That Fly finished performing, and the parking lot buzzed with fans, friends and family alike. It was certainly one of the most intimate concerts I’ve been to, and I would love to catch them again the next time they are in their home state of Connecticut.