When the reason behind buying tickets to the show was purely based off Spotify’s algorithm very accurately predicting my taste in music, followed by the thought of, “Oh, I bet this song is so much fun live”, and a quick Google search to find that this band will actually be in your town within the next few weeks, the impulse buy of a ticket surely makes for high expectations.
As could be expected, the exciting spontaneity of the occasion was both a driver, and precursor to the absolutely electric night as a whole. As the crispness in the autumn air begins to settle in Los Angeles, or at least as crisp as LA weather can get, this early November night, Ax and the Hatchetmen bring their buzzing sound to The Echoplex in the heart of Echo Park, following their very recent debut album release, So Much To Tell You.
Opening the concert was Kid’s That Fly, whose contagious energy fusing rock and pop genres, much like those of Ax and the Hatchetmen, caught the room’s attention immediately and refused to let go. All four members and their charming, matching flight suits lead their sound with a strong three-piece set of strings, which proved to be part of what makes their aura so lively. Audiences were absolutely well-prepped, to say the least, when “Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield started playing and the leading men themselves came out to plug in and get down.
Starting off with one of, if not the most popular song on their discography, “Hotel Room”, singer and guitarist Axel Ellis starts off the set with a voice perfect for the band’s indie garage-rock sound, backed by an impressive horns section consisting of Phil Pistone (trumpet), and Quinn Dolan (saxophone) that really solidifies the vibe that they bring both live and streaming, and makes them stand out amongst other indie rock groups. Another standout that highlights this was “Utah”, which has a somewhat more chilled out tone compared to the rest of their songs, however with a bit of a shift towards the end, was taken to a whole new level energetically and got both the crowd and the band members off their feet and into the thrilling flow happening onstage.
What really brought the crowd out of their skin? Before their cover of “Everybody Talks” by Neon Trees, Axel cheekily introduced Will Lipton of the TV show The Runarounds that the two co-star in. The cover was an amazing addition to the setlist and paired perfectly with the vibrant, high-spirited sound that they work to cultivate, and makes it seem like, as the listener, you are on stage headbanging right next to them – exactly the kind of vibe that their audiences look for in a live performance.
“New Years” also stood out as portraying this similar, electric energy that was brought out of band members and fans alike, and with the absolute ray of sunshine that is Salvatore Defilippis on guitar and charming Hunter Olshefke on bass, you can feel the camaraderie that the band has built together, and genuine fun that they are having sharing their art with the world.
Tickets are available here.
So Much To Tell You 2025 Tour
Nov 10, 2025 – Delmar Hall, St. Louis, MO
Nov 11, 2025 – Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack, Little Rock, AR
Nov 13, 2025 – 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA
Nov 14, 2025 – Motorco Music Hall, Durham, NC
Nov 15, 2025 – Union Stage, Washington, DC
Nov 18, 2025 – Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA
Nov 19, 2025 – Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Nov 21, 2025 – Metro, Chicago, IL
Nov 22, 2025 – Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI
Dec 2, 2025 – Warehouse on Broadway, Kansas City, MO
Dec 3, 2025 – 89th Street – OKC, Oklahoma City, OK
Dec 4, 2025 – 29th Street Ballroom, Austin, TX
Dec 5, 2025 – Paper Tiger, San Antonio, TX
Dec 6, 2025 – Club Dada, Dallas, TX
Dec 10, 2025 – The Abbey. Orlando, FL
Dec 11, 2025 – Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine, FL
Dec 12, 2025 – Crowbar, Tampa, FL
Dec 13, 2025 – The Charleston Pour House, Charleston, SC
Dec 14, 2025 – Radio Room Greenville, Greenville, SC
