Idobi Radio’s Summer School Tour brings junior year class to Phoenix

Ashley O’Mara

On Saturday, June 21, the idobi Radio “Summer School Tour” rolled into The Van Buren in Phoenix, Arizona, bringing six acts to the Valley for a night celebrating the future of alternative music. Now in its third year, or “junior year,” the touring festival continues its mission of artist development and community building, introducing fans to both rising stars and the scene’s next generation of headliners. Sponsored by Hot Topic, Guitar Center, peta2, Thriller Records, Rise Records, Nettwerk, Wax Bodega, Atlantic, and SJC, the tour continues to focus on artist development while strengthening and building community within the scene.In addition to a photo backdrop presented by Hot Topic and idobi Radio, attendees could also visit a booth from Phoenix-based Plug & Play Jewelry, a local business whose necklaces and earrings are designed to hold earplugs.

One of the most refreshing aspects of this year’s lineup was its representation. Every act except one featured at least one woman on stage, a reflection of the growing number of women helping shape today’s alternative music scene. From the local opener to the headliner, the women of Summer School proved themselves to be some of the most dynamic performers in modern rock.

Opening the evening was Arizona’s own Diva Bleach. Although designated as the local band for this stop of the tour, referring to them as merely a local opener almost feels unfair. The duo delivered a polished and confident performance that easily stood alongside the touring acts that followed. Their brief set featured songs including “Torn In Two,” “Obsessed,” “Crawling,” “I Like U,” “Clean,” and “One More Time,” introducing early arrivals to the band’s blend of alternative rock and pop. Despite having less than twenty minutes on stage, Diva Bleach made a strong case for why they continue to gain attention far beyond Arizona.

Following a brief delay caused by technical difficulties, Long Beach punk outfit Chase Petra took the stage. Frontperson Hunter Allen immediately established the band’s playful chemistry with the audience, spotting a fan named Maggie in the crowd and demanding that she dance her ass off during the next song. Allen repeatedly warned that “upper management” had informed the band that if the crowd failed to dance as well, Maggie would have to be put down. As the audience laughed and played along, Allen upped the stakes by asking, “Does it change anything if I tell you Maggie is a child?” Between songs, Allen also took a moment to voice support for Palestine and condemn ICE before launching back into the music. The band performed recent singles “405” and “Soda Pop,” both released within the past two months, alongside fan favorites and an unreleased track titled “Your Life Is Worse.” The combination of humor, crowd interaction, and memorable songs made for an entertaining set.

South Arcade was next, and for many in attendance, they quickly became one of the biggest surprises of the night. The British quartet brought an infectious level of energy to the stage, kicking things off with “HOW 2 GET AWAY WITH MURDER” before tearing through tracks including “FEAR OF HEIGHTS,” “Supermodels,” “DEADMEAT,” and “SUPERMAN.” A mosh pit broke out during the third song, and the band’s momentum never slowed from there. The group repeatedly interacted with fans, pointing out audience members sporting South Arcade merchandise and joking about jorts being part of the band’s uniform. They also informed the crowd that Phoenix was earning a better grade than the previous night’s audience. By the time they closed with “stone cold summer,” South Arcade had delivered on of my favorite set of the night. The band was new to me prior to the show, but they will undoubtedly be finding a place in my regular rotation moving forward.

Games We Play maintained the high energy that had been building throughout the evening. Frontman Emmyn Calleiro opened by informing the audience that he had nearly blown out his voice the night before and hoped to lose it completely before the end of the set. The declaration set the tone for a performance built around enthusiasm, humor, and audience participation. Songs like “The End” and “Is This What I’m Made Of” had fans singing along, while unreleased track “Silver Lining,” from the forthcoming album I Wish I Never Quit, gave listeners a glimpse of what is to come when the record arrives later this year. One of the set’s highlights came when Calleiro asked whether anyone in the crowd was in a band. After receiving a disappointingly small response, he invited a fan onstage and jokingly volunteered to teach him how to play keyboard. The fan embraced the opportunity, improvising alongside the band and earning cheers from the audience. The segment perfectly captured the playful spirit that has become a hallmark of Games We Play’s live shows.

If there was an award for sheer energy, Winona Fighter would have been a strong contender. Frontwoman Coco Kinnon was a whirlwind from the moment the band launched into “R U FAMOUS,” racing across the stage and commanding every inch of the room. The entire band delivered an intense and explosive performance, but Kinnon’s presence elevated the set to another level. Before the crowd surged into motion, she reminded everyone to respect one another and to keep their hands to themselves, while making it clear that beyond that, she had no objections to a little chaos in the pit. The band tore through songs including “Swear to God That I’m (FINE),” “Subaru,” “You Look Like a Drunk Phoebe Bridgers,” and “BOMBS AWAY.” They also treated fans to a cover of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” which immediately sent the crowd into overdrive. Having seen Winona Fighter open for Something Corporate on New Year’s Eve in 2023, the growth in the band’s musicianship was impossible to ignore. Kinnon always possessed remarkable stage presence, but the entire band has sharpened their craft considerably since then, making them, for me, one of the most exciting acts currently emerging from the punk scene.

As the evening’s headliner, Honey Revenge delivered a performance that felt particularly meaningful within the context of Summer School Tour’s history. During a heartfelt moment, vocalist Devin Papadol reflected on the band’s journey, reminding the audience that Honey Revenge had appeared on the very first Summer School Tour as an opener. Three years later, they now stood atop the bill. The achievement was not lost on either the band or the fans.

Honey Revenge approached their headlining set with the same playful spirit that defines much of the Summer School experience. Early in the performance, Papadol announced that the audience would be taking a pop quiz. A pair of referees appeared with a whiteboard to keep score, though the contest had little to do with academics and everything to do with crowd surfers. Throughout that song, security remained busy as a steady stream of fans made their way overhead. The band delivered favorites including “Run Your Mouth,” “Recipe for Disaster,” “Risk,” “Poison Apple Baby,” and “Airhead.” During “Poison Apple Baby,” Papadol ventured into the crowd, bringing fans even closer to the performance. The audience also got a taste of the band’s future with “Butterfly Effect,” a new song from their upcoming album, Loving and Losing. A particularly touching moment came when Papadol shared a story about being invited onstage by her favorite band several ago, an experience she credited with changing the trajectory of her life. She then invited a fan onstage to sing with the band, and the fan rose to the occasion, earning enthusiastic applause from everyone in attendance.

As “Summer School Tour” enters its third year, it continues to prove that its mission extends beyond simply putting a tour together. The event has become a launching pad for developing artists and a gathering place for a new generation of alternative music fans. Honey Revenge’s rise from opening act on the inaugural tour to this year’s headliner serves as a perfect example of what Summer School was designed to accomplish. If this year’s class is any indication, the future of the scene is in very capable hands.

The “Summer School Tour” is just getting started. The tour will make the trek across the US, stopping in 24 cities before it wraps in Portland, OR, on July 23rd. The acts of the Summer School Tour will also appear on the Vans Warped Tour Long Beach stages. This is a lineup worth seeing live, so check remaining tour dates and ticket information at summerschooltour.com.

Idobi Radio’s Summer School Tour brings junior year class to Phoenix

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