Concert Review: Peach Pit | House of Blues | Cleveland, OH

There are good shows, and then there are ones you’re still thinking about days later, Peach Pit’s tour stop in Cleveland was the latter.

On tour in support of their 2024 release, ‘Magpie,’ their concert at House of Blues Cleveland was nothing short of exhilarating—a perfect blend of surf-rock soul and indie charm. The band launched the night with a playful cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” then glided straight into “Magpie,” igniting instant sing-alongs and setting a warm, high-energy vibe that lasted all evening.

By the time Peach Pit hit the stage, the House of Blues was shoulder-to-shoulder. The five-piece band, with Neil Smith leading vocals, felt deeply in sync. There was an easy rhythm to the way they moved, played, and posed with each other between songs, which made everything feel less performative and more like a shared, enjoyable experience for everyone in the room. The crowd proved they were along for the ride with them by swaying along and singing every word.

The chemistry among Neil Smith (vocals, guitar), Christopher Vanderkooy (lead guitar), Peter Wilton (bass), Mikey Pascuzzi (drums), and Dougal McLean (touring multi-instrumentalist) was palpable, translating into infectious fun onstage. Their setlist, packed with fan favorites like “Alrighty Aphrodite,” “Shampoo Bottles,” and the beloved closer “Tommy’s Party,” kept the packed venue swaying and shouting from start to finish.

By the end of the night, it felt like everyone in the room had been part of something personal and truly special. Peach Pit didn’t just deliver the hits; they gave Cleveland a show full of humor, sincerity, and genuine connection. No gimmicks, no ego, just five guys sharing music with a room full of people who clearly love them for it.

Whether you were in the very front row (shout out to the peeps who had been there since 3:00 pm!) or squeezed into the back corner of the balcony, it was impossible not to feel the love in that space. Peach Pit’s Magpie tour is the kind of live experience that reminds you why seeing a band in person matters — and Cleveland is already waiting for their return.

The night began with the warm and slightly quirky energy of Miya Folick, who effortlessly won over the crowd with her gentle and honest stage presence and dreamy sound. The gorgeous stage lighting spotlighted her during her slow, intimate songs. As the opener, she’s been traveling the tour with a lemon — yes, an actual real lemon, snapping photos of it at each stop. At one point, someone from the crowd threw her a “handmade ceramic flower”, and Miya promised to take a picture of the lemon with it. It was a small, charming moment that perfectly captured her personality. Before she wrapped up her set, she also made a promise to return to Cleveland, which drew cheers from the packed pit, and I must add, personally, she gained another new fan.