This venue is one of a kind—equal parts haunted charm and gothic fantasy. Between the ice cream shop, tattoo parlor, and full-on gothic restaurant and bar, it’s basically a playground for anyone with a dark aesthetic. The Ritz Theater’s tiered setup lets you see your favorite bands eye-to-eye, with upper-level seating and a ground floor that always turns into a controlled riot. On this particular Tuesday, it was packed with energy and memories that’ll stick.
Vanna, the Boston-based metalcore icons, reunited in 2024 with their original lineup and just released Time Is Violence—their first new music under the Vanna name since 2017’s Inspirit chapter. The four-track EP blends years of grit with a Southern hardcore edge, landing somewhere between nostalgia and fresh fire. Longtime fans sang every word, and newcomers got baptized by the energy. Frontman Chris Pearce spent half the night on the floor with the crowd, high-fiving fans and turning the room into one big family. Bassist Sean Marquis took a moment to speak about standing up for what you believe in, closing with a powerful “Free Palestine” shoutout. Their merch even included a hand-dyed custom tee—a creative touch that matched the night’s DIY heart.
Letlive closed out their long-awaited reunion tour with pure chaos and heart. Jason Aalon Butler (taking a break from Fever 333, where he shares the stage with Vanna’s drummer Brandon Davis) gave the crowd everything. He thanked venue owner Josh Balz (formerly of Motionless In White), gifting him a giant inflatable diamond ring before diving into his trademark wildness—sliding across a water-soaked table and smashing it in half to end the set on command. Between the chaos, Butler spoke about love—finding it in his children, in community, and in every person in the room.
It might’ve looked unhinged, but all that was felt was love. The kind of night that reminds you why we keep coming back—to the pit, to the music, to The Ritz Theater, where rock still lives loud.
Letlive Tour
Letlive
Vanna
